Comprehensive information about soft tissue sarcoma treatment approaches, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies.
This information is adapted from medical resources including the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Database. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions together with your medical team.
The treatment information in this section is not official policy of the National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team.
Multidisciplinary care (MDC) can be broadly defined as an integrated team approach to health care in which medical and allied health care professionals consider all relevant treatment options and develop an individual treatment plan for each patient collaboratively.
Sarcoma care can be complex. Due to the large number and range of healthcare providers who may be involved, there is a potential for poor communication and poor coordination of care. MDC has been identified as a key enabler in the provision of high-quality treatment and care for cancer patients.
Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) aim at improving communication, coordination, and decision-making between the care professionals.
Multidisciplinary care teams are a requirement of sarcoma centers of excellence.
SARC Sarcoma Centers Directory - Sarcoma Centers of ExcellenceThe core members typically include:
These members meet to discuss each patient to determine the best course of treatment. Nurse coordinators often bring patient information and concerns to the meeting.
Other professionals involved in the overall care of the patient may include:
The only way to cure a soft tissue sarcoma is to remove it with surgery, so surgery is part of the treatment for all soft tissue sarcomas whenever possible.
It is important that your surgeon and other doctors are experienced in the treatment of sarcomas. These are difficult tumors to treat and require both experience and expertise. Studies have shown that patients with sarcomas have better outcomes when they are treated at specialized cancer centers that have experience in sarcoma treatment.
Surgery aims to remove the tumor along with a margin of normal tissue around it. The success of surgery depends on:
After surgery, if the original tumor was surgically removed with clean margins and there are no signs of any other LMS, doctors might suggest either:
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays or particles to kill cancer cells. It may be used:
Most common type of radiation therapy, where radiation is focused from a machine outside the body
Internal radiation using radioactive material placed directly into or near the tumor
Side effects of radiation therapy can include skin changes, fatigue, and effects on nearby organs. Discuss potential side effects with your radiation oncologist before beginning treatment.
Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs that are typically given intravenously (injected into a vein) or taken by mouth. These drugs enter the bloodstream and reach all areas of the body, making this treatment potentially useful for cancers that have spread beyond the original site.
Chemotherapy might be given:
These drugs are often used in combination to improve effectiveness.
Side effects of chemotherapy depend on the specific drugs, doses, and duration of treatment. Common side effects may include hair loss, mouth sores, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and increased risk of infections.
Targeted therapy drugs specifically target certain genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. These drugs are different from chemotherapy drugs, which attack all rapidly dividing cells.
Drugs like pazopanib (Votrient) target blood vessel formation and other pathways. It may be used for certain advanced soft tissue sarcomas after chemotherapy.
Sirolimus (Rapamune) and other mTOR inhibitors may be effective against some types of soft tissue sarcomas.
For specific sarcoma subtypes, drugs that inhibit histone deacetylases (HDACs) may be effective.
Research into targeted therapies for soft tissue sarcomas continues to evolve. Clinical trials may offer access to newer targeted therapy options.
Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that boosts the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. It uses drugs or other substances to enhance immune responses, targeting cancer more precisely than traditional therapies. Can be used alone or with other treatments.
Links for more InfoAfter a sarcoma is found and staged, your team will recommend one or several treatment options. This decision is important, so take time and think about all of the choices.
"It is important to discuss all of your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs."
It's very important to ask questions if there is anything you're not sure about. You may want to seek a second opinion. A second opinion can provide more information and help you feel more confident about the chosen treatment plan. Some insurance companies require a second opinion before they will agree to pay for treatments.
