What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to characterize the molecular and immune heterogeneity across different sarcoma subtypes to inform therapeutic strategies.

March 12, 2026Open Access

101P Multi-omic profiling reveals molecular and immune heterogeneity across sarcoma subtypes

Key Points

The study aims to characterize the molecular and immune heterogeneity across different sarcoma subtypes to inform therapeutic strategies.
Multi-omic profiling including transcriptomic, proteomic, and genomic data from TCGA-SARC.
Immune infiltration quantified using deconvolution algorithms across four sarcoma subtypes.
Comparison of tumor mutational burden and overall survival among subtypes.
Statistical analysis using the Kruskal-Wallis test to assess differences in immune microenvironment.
Pronounced multi-omic heterogeneity was observed among sarcoma subtypes.
Leiomyosarcoma showed lower immune scores and reduced macrophage presence but higher T-cell abundance.
Myxofibrosarcoma had the highest tumor mutational burden, while dedifferentiated liposarcoma had the lowest.
Genomic profiling revealed significant alterations in genes like TP53 and RB1.
Median overall survival varied widely across subtypes, with leiomyosarcoma having the longest survival.

Abstract

Background: Sarcomas are a biologically heterogeneous group of tumors with diverse immune, genomic, and proteomic landscapes.Characterizing subtype-specific molecular and microenvironmental features is critical to understanding sarcoma biology and identifying potential therapeutic targets.Methods: Transcriptomic, proteomic, genomic, and clinical data were obtained from TCGA-SARC (n=255).Immune infiltration was quantified using multiple deconvolution algorithms (xCell, CIBERSORT, TIMER, QuanTIseq) across four subtypes: Leiomyosarcoma (LMS), Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma (DLPS), Myxofibrosarcoma (MYXO), and Pleomorphic Sarcoma (PLEO).Immune microenvironment differences were assessed with the Kruskal-Wallis test.Tumor mutational burden (TMB) and subtype-specific genomic alterations and proteomic expression patterns were evaluated.Median overall survival was compared to assess potential prognostic differences.Results: Subtypes showed pronounced multi-omic heterogeneity.LMS had lower microenvironment and immune scores (p < 0.05), with reduced macrophages but higher NK/T-cell abundance (p < 0.05).DLPS exhibited elevated immune and microenvironment scores (p < 0.05).MYXO had the highest median TMB, whereas DLPS had the lowest (p < 0.05).Genomic profiling identified significant TP53 and RB1 alterations in MYXO and oncogenic amplifications of MDM1, MDM2, TSPAN31, and TSPAN8 in DLPS.Proteomic analysis revealed subtype-specific heterogeneous overexpression of proteins involved in proliferation and oncogenic signaling (CCND1, SRC, ERBB3), apoptosis regulation (BAX, TIGAR, STK11), cell cycle control (CDKN1A, FOXO), and DNA damage response (CHEK1), reflecting diverse functional programs across sarcoma subtypes.DLPS was male-predominant (66%) (p < 0.05), whereas other subtypes occurred more frequently in females.Median overall survival varied across subtypes-LMS (80.48 months), MYXO (64.21),DLPS (60.00),PLEO (46.82).Conclusions: Sarcoma subtypes exhibit deep molecular and immune divergence across genomic, proteomic, and microenvironmental layers.Findings highlight the need for integrated biomarkers that transcend histologic classification to guide therapeutic stratification.

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