Sarcoma

More than 75 different types of sarcomas have been identified and studies have shown that treatment of such tumors is best performed in high-volume academic, referral centers with clinicians who are experts in the field and specialize in the care of patients with sarcomas.

At the Emory Sarcoma Center, located at Emory University Hospital Midtown, we have a multidisciplinary team of clinicians that has a specific clinical interest and expertise in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of patients with bone, soft-tissue, and retroperitoneal sarcomas. Our team includes: sarcoma pathologists, surgical oncologists, orthopedic oncologists, thoracic surgeons, sarcoma medical and radiation oncologists, musculoskeletal radiologists, and supportive oncology specialists.

Our sarcoma team meets on a weekly-basis at a multidisciplinary tumor conference to discuss individual cases by reviewing pathology slides, treatment plans, and assessing clinical trial eligibility.

The benefits of our multidisciplinary and highly-experienced sarcoma team include:

• Access to clinicians and surgeons who rank among the top cancer specialists in the world with expertise in all types of sarcoma including unique cases such as sacral chordomas, retroperitoneal sarcomas, and radiation-induced sarcomas.
• Availability of new treatment options within our sarcoma clinical trials program.
• Access to state-of-the-art imaging and radiation technology, including proton therapy for certain cases.
• Access to a nurse navigator to assist you throughout the evaluation and treatment process.
• Access to support groups and education classes for you and your caregivers.

Request an Appointment

If you have been diagnosed with a sarcoma, we are ready to help you. Call us at 1 (888) 946-7447 or (404) 778-1900 to make an appointment with a sarcoma specialist. Winship experts are available to provide a consultation or a second opinion.

We understand that this is a very stressful time. We welcome your questions and requests for help. Learn what to expect on your first visit.

If a physical examination or imaging suggests a sarcoma may be present, a biopsy will be performed in order to potentially further determine the type of sarcoma present. A biopsy involves obtaining a sample of tissue from the tumor that is then examined by our expert sarcoma pathologists.

Key factors include tumor size, tumor location, aggressiveness of the tumor and whether or not the tumor has spread to other parts of the body.

One or more of the following types of treatment options can be used:

Surgery: Limb-sparing, function preserving surgery, with or without radiation therapy, is the surgical approach for the majority of patients with an extremity sarcoma. The tumor, along with a margin of normal tissue around it, is removed in its entirety. In the past, amputation was the standard surgical approach, but with limb sparing procedures an amputation is rarely indicated now-a-days. For tumors that are in the abdomen or retroperitoneum, major, complex abdominal operations are often required. The extent of such of abdominal operations varies on the type of sarcoma. Surgery, in certain circumstances, is also used to remove tumors that have spread (metastasized) to organs such as the lung and liver with the goal of potentially improving survival.

Chemotherapy: The use of traditional cytotoxic drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells is commonly employed in the treatment of various types of bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Chemotherapy can be administered prior to surgery as part of a multimodality treatment approach in conjunction with radiation therapy or it can be administered as sole therapy in patients with advanced tumors. However, due to the rarity and diversity of sarcomas, chemotherapy should be administered by a medical oncologist with expertise and experience in the management of patients with sarcomas. Furthermore, our sarcoma medical oncologists are up-to-date with the array of novel drugs that are being identified and used in the treatment of sarcomas and are actively involved in national and international sarcoma clinical trials.

Radiation Therapy: Radiation plays a key role in the multimodality treatment of many bone and soft tissue sarcomas and is an integral component in the management of patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity and trunk. Radiation is also routinely used in the palliative setting to improve quality of life.

Our radiation oncologists use cutting edge techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy and proton therapy, that minimize the potential toxicity of radiation to the surrounding normal tissues.

Proton therapy is a form of radiation that can deliver treatment precisely to the tumor while reducing or eliminating radiation to nearby normal tissues. The Emory Proton Therapy Center is the only center in the state of Georgia to offer this advanced form of radiation therapy. Proton therapy is often used in the treatment of chordomas and chondrosarcomas, as well as other types of sarcoma in selected cases where it may reduce side effects of treatment. Learn about proton therapy for sarcoma.

Clinical Trials

In addition to standard therapy, participating in clinical trials may be an option in certain cases. Clinical trials provide patients access to new medications that are being developed to treat sarcoma. Consider talking with your doctor about participating in a clinical trial at Winship.

Supportive Oncology Care

In addition to delivering the highest quality medical care, we recognize the importance of the psychological and emotional aspects of living with a cancer diagnosis and of dealing with treatment. Our supportive oncology team addresses these issues in a timely manner with additional support from counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians and social service professionals.