Radiation therapy: This treatment method uses high-energy x-rays to eliminate or control cancer cells. The goal of radiation therapy is to reduce the risk of local recurrence for primary sarcomas, and radiation is usually done either before (our usual preference) or after surgery. There are two main approaches:
- External beam radiation, facilitated by a linear accelerator (LINAC), targets cancer cells from outside the body through the skin.
- Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) involves implanting radiation pellets into the cancerous area; placing radioactive pellets temporarily in a tube inside the body to deliver radiation directly to the tumor site; or placing radioactive pellets on the skin surface to treat superficial tumors
Learn more about radiation therapy for soft tissue sarcoma.
Learn more about radiation therapy for bone sarcoma.
Chemotherapy: This employs drugs to destroy cancer cells, reduce their size and impede their ability to divide. It can be administered orally, intravenously or via injection into a muscle, allowing the drugs to reach cancer cells throughout the body. In some cases, chemotherapy may also be used in combination with immunotherapy.
Learn more about chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma.
Learn more about chemotherapy for bone sarcoma.
Immunotherapy: This therapy helps the body’s immune system fight diseases, including cancer. Normally, the immune system has "checkpoints" that prevent it from attacking healthy cells. But cancer cells can trick these checkpoints to avoid being attacked. Some drugs, called immune checkpoint inhibitors, are designed to block these tricks, and can be used to treat certain sarcomas.
Ablation: Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses extreme heat (radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryoablation) to destroy sarcomas. Guided by imaging techniques like CT scans, an interventional radiologist places a probe directly into the tumor to heat or freeze the tissue.
Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy uses specialized drugs to attack cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. Types include:
- Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: These block signals cancer cells need to grow and may also prevent new blood vessels from forming to feed tumors.
- Histone Methyltransferase Inhibitors: This therapy slows cancer cell growth.
Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Treatments: Chemotherapy or radiation may be given before surgery (neoadjuvant treatment) or after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells and reduce recurrence risk (adjuvant treatment). These treatments improve the chances of successful surgery, particularly for high-grade sarcomas.
Clinical trials: Patients can participate in research studies designed to enhance current treatment options or explore new approaches for cancer management.
Social Work
If you have any questions or concern about who can take care of you after leaving the hospital, a social worker might be able to help. The Social Work in Care Coordination service at Brigham and Women’s Hospital offers confidential support to help you coordinate arrangements after you leave the hospital.
