Treating Sarcoma With a Multidisciplinary Approach

In season 2, episode 10 of Targeted Talks, Sandra P. D'Angelo, MD, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center speaks joins Katherine Poruk, MD, a surgical oncologist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America for a conversation about frontline treatment practices in the sarcoma space.

Using a case scenario of a patient with localized soft tissue sarcoma in the right thigh, Poruk first explains the best approach for surgical intervention. The key for treating a patient with these characteristics, according to Poruk, is to start with history, a physical, and imaging. Often, imaging can reveal a lot about the tumor. In other cases, a biopsy is needed before surgery.

In terms of systemic therapy, D'Angelo explains that for metastatic disease, chemotherapy is the mainstay of therapy. Deciding on which agents to use in a patient is usually based on the patient's comorbidities. The options are more plentiful in later-line settings.

Both physicians agree that histology is important for the treatment of patients with sarcoma. Further, pathologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists must work together to treat patients with sarcoma.