Olaratumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that blocks the 
platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα). Its antagonistic 
behavior inhibits the receptor's tyrosine kinase activity, thereby, turning off 
the downstream signaling cascades responsible for soft tissue sarcoma 
tumorigenesis. In October 2016, olaratumab received Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) approval for its use in combination with doxorubicin for treatment of 
advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Areas covered: This drug profile takes a 
comprehensive look at the clinical studies leading to FDA approval of olaratumab 
as well as its safety and efficacy as a front-line treatment option for sarcoma 
patients. The literature search was primarily conducted using PubMed. Expert 
commentary: The combination of olaratumab plus doxorubicin has provided a new 
front-line therapeutic option for soft tissue sarcoma patients. An open-label 
phase Ib and randomized phase II trial in patients with advanced soft tissue 
sarcoma demonstrated that the addition of olaratumab to doxorubicin prolonged 
progression-free survival by 2.5 months and overall survival by 11.8 months when 
compared to doxorubicin alone. Of importance, this clinically meaningful 
increase in overall survival did not come at the expense of a significantly 
greater number of toxicities. A phase III confirmatory trial (ClinicalTrials.gov 
Identifier NCT02451943) will be completed in 2020.