Necroptosis in the sarcoma immune microenvironment: From biology to therapy

•Apoptosis resistance remains a major obstacle to treatment failure in sarcoma.•Necroptosis is a caspase-independent programmed immunogenic cell death.•Necroptosis with morphology similar to necrosis is mediated by RIPK and MLKL.•Necroptosis in the tumor immune microenvironment has pro- or anti-tumor roles.•Necroptosis may be a new target against sarcoma and synergize with immunotherapy. Apoptosis resistance remains a major obstacle to treatment failure in sarcoma. Necroptosis is a caspase-independent programmed cell death, investigated as a novel strategy to eradicate anti-apoptotic tumor cells. The process is mediated by the receptor-interacting proteins kinase family and mixed lineage kinase domain-like proteins, which is morphologically similar to necrosis. Recent studies suggest that necroptosis in the tumor microenvironment has pro- or anti-tumor effects on immune response and cancer development. Necroptosis-related molecules display a remarkable value in prognosis prediction and therapeutic response evaluation of sarcoma. Furthermore, the induction of tumor necroptosis has been explored as a feasible therapeutic strategy against sarcoma and to synergize with immunotherapy. This review discusses the dual roles of necroptosis in the immune microenvironment and tumor progression, and explores the potential of necroptosis as a new target for sarcoma treatment.