Sarcoma/Soft Tissue Tumors

Soft tissue tumors and sarcomas are uncommon tumors that arise from “mesenchymal” tissue of the musculoskeletal system, including muscle, bone, cartilage, fat and connective tissue. Sarcoma refers to the malignant variety of soft tissue tumor. Sarcomas are responsible for only 1 percent of adult cancers, with approximately 8000 people given the diagnosis each year in the United States. Because of the relative rarity of these tumors, cancer care for the patient with a sarcoma is best provided by a multidisciplinary team with specialty training and experience in sarcomas. Since sarcomas tend to grow in the musculoskeletal system, especially in the legs and arms, the goal of sarcoma care must not only include eradication of the tumor but preservation of the function of the affected body part. Again, this is best accomplished with a multidisciplinary sarcoma specialty team.

The treatment of sarcoma at the New York University Cancer Institute involves the close interaction of an expert team of surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists, pathologists, and a rehabilitation team which includes physical and occupational therapists and rehabilitative physicians. The NYU Surgical Oncologists who specialize in sarcoma care have trained at the world’s largest sarcoma referral centers including the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and the National Cancer Institute. The care is individualized for each patient and their specific tumor type.

Working closely with our medical and radiation oncology colleagues, the Divisionof Surgical Oncology offers the latest advances in sarcoma care including participationin clinical trials. The Division of Surgical Oncology also works closely withour Orthopedic Oncology and Pediatric Surgical Colleagues for bone tumors andsarcomas in children. More information on soft tissue sarcomas may be foundat The National Cancer Institute for Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

For details, search the NYU Clinical Trials database.

A Randomized Phase 2, Multicenter, Open-label Study of YONDELIS ET-743 (ecteinascidin) Administered by Two Different Schedules (Weekly for 3 or 4 Weeks vs. q3 Weeks) in Subjects With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Liposarcoma or Leiomyosarcoma Following Treatment With an Anthracycline and Ifosfamide