Sarcoma Treatment
Advanced care leads to better outcomes
Comprehensive care
Sarcomas demand specialized expertise in diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for optimal patient outcomes. The University of Kansas Cancer Center brings together the region's premier multidisciplinary sarcoma team to treat uncommon bone and soft tissue tumors in pediatric, teen and adult patients.
From diagnosis through recovery, sarcoma patients receive the full spectrum of care for the whole person. In addition to the latest surgical, medical and radiation options, we provide educational, emotional and spiritual support for patients with this rare form of cancer. Our surgical techniques and therapies include:
- Brachytherapy
- Carbon fiber technology for bone reconstruction
- Complex vascular resection and reconstruction
- Customized modular limb reconstruction techniques
- Growing prostheses for the youngest patients
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy
- Minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
After a sarcoma is found and staged, the cancer care team will recommend one or several treatment options, depending on its location and how far the cancer has spread. Options may include:
Surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for sarcomas. Surgical resection consists of removal of the entire cancerous part, inclusive of a cuff or margin of normal tissue surrounding the mass, and in one piece, in order to ensure that every cancerous cell is removed. Our dedicated bone/soft tissue pathology team is present in the operating room and assists in ensuring that every last cancer cell is indeed removed.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses high energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. There are two types of radiotherapy. External radiotherapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiotherapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiotherapy is delivered depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medicines to destroy cancer cells or to alter their metabolism. You may receive it before or after surgery. Our doctors develop new chemotherapy drugs based on clinical research trial results. These drugs treat specific cells or the way cells grow. They include:
- Targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without affecting healthy cells
- Drugs that prevent the formation of blood vessels that feed tumors
These can be used with regular chemotherapy and surgery, when needed.
In this area, we can use several advanced techniques, such as:
- Embolization: Cutting off the blood supply to the tumor.
- Radio frequency ablation: Destroying tumor tissue with heat. Learn more about this procedure.
- Chemoembolization: Injecting anti-cancer drugs directly into the blood vessel feeding a cancerous tumor.
- Microwave ablation: Injecting microwave energy, similar to your microwave at home, through a fine needle to destroy cancer cells.
- Calypso® 4D Localization System™: Using leading-edge technology to track the movement of targeted tissue for more accurate delivery of energy.
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. Hormones are substances produced by glands in the body and circulated in the bloodstream. Some hormones can cause certain cancers to grow. If tests show the cancer cells have places where hormones can attach (receptors), chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy is used to reduce the production of hormones or block them from working.
Clinical trials
As a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center, we offer patients the greatest access to nationally sponsored clinical trials testing promising sarcoma therapies. Learn more about clinical trials.