Study Evaluates Incidence of Lymphedema Resulting from Cancer Treatment 08/08/2010
A systematic review of 47 studies evaluating treatment for melanoma, head and neck cancer, genitourinary cancers, gynecologic cancers, and sarcoma indicates that lymphedema is a common side effect of treatment for these diseases. These findings were recently published in the journal Cancer.[1] Lymphedema is the buildup of lymph fluid in ...

Study Evaluates Anthracycline-related Heart Problems in Childhood Cancer Survivors 05/27/2010
Children with particular variants of drug-metabolizing genes may be more likely than other children to develop heart problems after low doses of anthracycline chemotherapy. The results of this study will be presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Anthracyclines are commonly used chemotherapy drugs that ...

High-risk Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients Benefit from Targeted Heat Therapy Combined with Chemotherapy 05/07/2010
A technique called regional hyperthermia (RHT) makes chemotherapy more effective and improves outcomes in patients with localized, high-risk soft tissue sarcoma, according to the results of a study recently published in the journal The Lancet.[1] These findings were initially presented on September 22, 2009 at ...

Children with Ewing’s Sarcoma or Astrocytoma Most Likely to Experience Late Recurrence 02/19/2010
Late recurrence of childhood cancers appears to occur most often in Ewing’s sarcoma and astrocytoma, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. As cancer treatment has improved and evolved, the number of survivors of childhood and adolescent cancers has ...

Targeted Heat Therapy Improves Outcomes for Soft Tissue Sarcoma 09/30/2009
A new technique called regional hyperthermia (RHT) makes chemotherapy more effective and improves outcomes in patients with soft tissue sarcoma, according to the results of a study presented on September 22, 2009 at Europe’s largest cancer congress, ECCO 15-ESMO 34, in Berlin.[1] Soft tissue sarcomas are cancers that affect the ...

Gleevec® Approved for Adjuvant Treatment of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors 12/31/2008
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded the approval of Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) to include the adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of Kit-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumors in adults.Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are a relatively rare but aggressive type of soft-tissue sarcoma. These cancers are most commonly found in the stomach ...

Gleevec® Confirmed as Effective Treatment for Early GIST 05/01/2007
According to results from a large North American clinical trial, Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) reduces the risk of a cancer recurrence following surgery in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). The interim analyses of these results have prompted the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) to make Gleevec available ...

Children with Sarcoma at Higher Risk for Blood Clots 04/30/2007
According to results recently published in the Journal of the Clinical Oncology, children with sarcoma are at an increased risk of developing medical complications associated with blood clots.Sarcomas refer to several types of cancer that originate from many different types of tissues.  Each subtype of sarcoma is treated distinctly, ...

Interruption of Treatment with Gleevec® Not Recommended for GIST 03/23/2007
According to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, interruption in treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) is not recommended for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) whose disease has appeared to stabilize.GIST is a rare type of cancer that originates in the wall of the gastrointestinal track. ...

Two-gene Test Correctly Distinguishes GIST from Leiomyosarcoma 02/28/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a test that assesses the expression of two genes accurately classifies two types of cancer that share a similar appearance but have very different treatment approaches: gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and leiomyosarcoma.GIST ...

PET Useful for Initial Evaluation of Children with Rhabdomyosarcoma 02/16/2007
Researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have reported that imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) is useful in the initial staging of children with rhabdomyosarcoma. These results were published in the Journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology.Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft-tissue cancer that arises from skeletal muscle. It is the ...

Camptosar® Evaluated in Children with Relapsed or Refractory Rhabdomyosarcoma 02/14/2007
In a Phase II clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Camptosar® (irinotecan) reduced or eliminated detectable cancer in 11% of children with relapsed or refractory rhabdomyosarcoma.Rhabdomyosarcoma arises from skeletal muscle and is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Approximately 20% of patients are diagnosed ...

Combination of Irinotecan and Vincristine Active Against Metastatic Rhabdomyosarcoma 02/12/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, treatment with the chemotherapy drugs irinotecan and vincristine reduced or eliminated detectable cancer in roughly 70 percent of children with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma.Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft-tissue cancer that arises from skeletal muscle. It is the most ...

Long-term Survival May Be Achieved with Surgical Removal of Soft Tissue Sarcoma Spread to the Lung 01/22/2007
According to results recently published in the Archives of Surgery, long-term survival may be achieved with the surgical removal of cancer spread to the lung among patients with soft tissue sarcoma.Soft tissue sarcoma includes cancers that originate in muscle, fat, nerve, blood vessels, or deep skin tissues. It is ...

Gleevec® Receives Expanded Approval 10/31/2006
Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for five new uses. This approval will allow Gleevec to be used to treat a broader range of disorders. Previously, Gleevec was approved for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) as well as ...

Sutent® Improves Outcomes for Patients with GIST 10/11/2006
According to an article recently published in The Lancet, Sutent® (sunitinib) improves outcomes among patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who have stopped responding to or cannot tolerate Gleevec® (imatinib). GIST is a rare type of cancer that originates in the wall of the gastrointestinal track. The American Cancer Society ...

Outcomes for Progressive Ewing's Sarcoma Treated with High-dose Therapy 07/27/2006
According to results recently published in the Annals of Oncology, treatment of progressive or recurrent Ewing's sarcoma with high-dose therapy and stem cell transplants provides some effective results; however, rates of severe side effects were high, which warrants clinical trials evaluating novel therapies for patients with this disease. The Ewing's ...

Chemotherapy Combination Produces Promising Results in Ewing's Sarcoma 04/05/2006
Among patients with high-risk Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT), treatment with an intensified chemotherapy regimen of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine (CAV) resulted in good control of disease and made it easier to perform surgery. These results were published in the journal Cancer. The ...

Surgery for Recurrent Rhabdomyosarcoma May Improve Survival 03/31/2006
According to results recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, aggressive surgical removal of cancer in pediatric patients with recurrent rhabdomyosarcoma may improve survival. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft-tissue cancer that arises from skeletal muscle. It is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma among children. Although patients may respond to initial therapy, ...

Molecular Markers Detect Cancer Spread in Rhabdomyosarcoma 03/31/2006
According to an early online article published in the journal Cancer, specific tumor markers may help detect cancer spread in patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft-tissue cancer that arises from skeletal muscle. It is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma among children. The extent of spread of the cancer from ...

Taxotere® plus Gemzar® Provides Anticancer Responses in Metastatic Soft-Tissue Sarcomas 03/29/2006
According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, the combination consisting of chemotherapy agents Taxotere® (docetaxel) and Gemzar® (gemcitabine) provides anticancer responses and may improve outcomes compared to standard therapies in patients with metastatic soft-tissue sarcomas, especially in patients with leiomyosarcoma.Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) are characterized by the ...

Gleevec® Produces a Treatment Response in Some Patients with Desmoid Tumors 03/23/2006
According to a phase II clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) reduced detectable disease in 16% of patients with desmoid tumors, and resulted in stable disease in another 21% of patients. Desmoid tumors, also called aggressive fibromatosis, form in connective tissue. These ...

Isolated Limb Perfusion with TNF and Alkeran® Spares Limbs in Soft-Tissue Sarcomas 03/22/2006
According to an article recently published in an early online edition of the journal Cancer, isolated limb perfusion with tumor necrosis factor and the chemotherapy agent Alkera® (melphalan) results in high treatment responses while allowing patients with soft-tissue sarcoma to undergo limb-sparing surgery. Soft-tissue sarcomas are characterized by the growth ...

Chromosomal Changes Linked with Prognosis in Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma 03/08/2006
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, factors that were linked with an increased risk of distant metastases in adult patients with high-grade, soft-tissue sarcoma were tumor size, tumor grade, and certain chromosomal abnormalities. Soft tissue sarcoma is a cancer that develops in tissues such as ...

Addition of Avastin® to Chemotherapy May Slow Disease Progression in Metastatic Soft-Tissue Sarcoma 10/14/2005
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the addition of Avastin® (bevacizumab) to the chemotherapy agent Adriamycin® (doxorubicin) may slow cancer progression in patients with metastatic soft-tissue sarcomas. Soft-tissue sarcomas are characterized by the growth of cancer cells in the soft tissue of the body. ...

High-Dose Therapy May Improve Outcome for Patients with Relapsed Ewing's Sarcoma 07/08/2005
The Journal of Clinical Oncology recently published an article reporting that high-dose chemotherapy for the treatment of relapsed Ewing's Sarcoma is associated with improved overall survival. Ewing's sarcoma is one type of cancer in the Ewing's Sarcoma Family of Tumors (ESFT)—rare diseases in which cancerous cells affect the bone and ...

Gemzar® Plus Taxotere® Active in Recurrent Sarcoma 05/27/2004
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the chemotherapy regimen consisting of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) plus Taxotere® (docetaxel) provides anti-cancer activity in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas that have stopped responding to previous therapies. Soft-tissue sarcomas are characterized ...

Additional Chemotherapy to Standard Regimen Improves Survival in Ewing’s Sarcoma 02/24/2003
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the addition of Ifex® (ifosfamide) and etoposide (VePesid®) to the standard chemotherapy regimen appears to improve survival in patients with Ewing’s sarcoma that has not spread to distant sites in the body. Ewing’s sarcoma is ...

Surgery for Osteosarcoma Increases Cure Rates over Chemotherapy Alone 11/22/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, surgery appears to be an integral treatment component for achieving a cure in localized osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is a cancer that starts in the bone. It is a disease that mainly affects young adults or adolescents. The most ...

Taxol® for AIDS-Related Recurrent Kaposis Sarcoma 07/03/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, paclitaxel (Taxol®) appears to improve the quality of life and extend survival for patients with AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma that has stopped responding to anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Kaposi’s sarcoma is a cancer of the skin and/or mucous membranes. Though the ...

Gemzar® Active in Soft-Tissue Sarcomas 02/22/2002
Gemzar® as a single agent produces modest activity in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) and may potentially be used in combination therapy for patients with this disease, according to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Due to the limited treatment options ...

Percutaneous Core Needle Biopsy Recommended for Diagnosis of Sarcomas 02/22/2002
A biopsy using a small needle with a hollow core creates fewer side effects and appears to be just as accurate as an open biopsy for the diagnosis of sarcomas, according to a recent article published in the journal Cancer. There are 2 types of sarcomas: soft-tissue sarcomas and ...

Long-Term Follow-Up Care Needed for Osteosarcoma Patients 02/22/2002
Long-term follow-up care of 5 years or more is needed for patients treated for osteosarcoma, according to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Osteosarcoma is a cancer that starts in the bone. It is a disease that mainly affects young adults or adolescents. The most ...

Stem Cell Transplantation Improves Survival for Select Patients with Soft-Tissue Sarcoma 02/22/2002
Patients with inoperable, advanced soft-tissue sarcoma have considerably low cure rates. Less than 10% of these patients survive for 5 years following current standard treatment. Recent results from a clinical trial, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology show a significant improvement in the duration of survival in ...

Survival Rates Improving for Patients with Ewing's Sarcoma of the Bone 02/22/2002
Ewing’ s sarcoma of the bone is a rare cancer occurring in children and young adults. Due to the fact that it is such a rare disease, overall data collection has been relatively sparse, making it difficult to determine characteristics of patients, treatments and outcomes regarding this cancer. ...

ET-743 Shows Promise in the Treatment of Soft-Tissue Sarcomas 02/22/2002
Early phases of clinical trials evaluating a new compound called Ecteinascidia turbinata (ET-743), show promise in the treatment of certain soft tissue sarcomas. (36th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology). Soft-tissue sarcomas are characterized by the growth of cancer cells in the soft tissue of the ...

Thalidomide Produces Responses in Persons with AIDS-Related Kaposi’s Sarcoma 02/22/2002
Oral thalidomide may be an effective and tolerable treatment option for some persons who have AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma, according to a new report by researchers from Maryland. Further study is needed to assess the potential role of thalidomide in the management of this type of cancer. Kaposi’s sarcoma is ...

Childhood Soft-Tissue Sarcomas: Short-Term, High-Dose Chemotherapy Plus Neupogen® May Improve Response and Survival Rates 02/22/2002
Childhood and adolescent soft-tissue sarcomas, such as Ewing’s sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, are rare cancers. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or surgery. When the cancer has metastasized, or spread, from the part of the body where it started to other parts of the body, more aggressive or intensive ...

Neupogen® Helps Decrease the Time between Chemotherapy Cycles for Children with Soft-Tissue Sarcomas 02/22/2002
Childhood and adolescent soft-tissue sarcomas, such as Ewing’s sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, are rare cancers that may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. For some children with soft-tissue sarcomas, it may be that the administration of more chemotherapy cycles in a given period of time (than with ...

Determining Risk for Relapse Allows Less Radiation Therapy for Some Children with Soft-Tissue Sarcoma 02/22/2002
Treatment for children and adolescents with soft-tissue sarcoma often entails surgery, followed by both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Recently, German researchers reported that individuals who are at low risk to suffer a recurrence (return) of the cancer after surgery and/or chemotherapy may be given lower than usual doses ...

Researchers Evaluate Treatment Outcomes for Children with Non-Rhabdomyosarcoma Soft-Tissue Sarcomas 02/22/2002
While the most common form of soft-tissue sarcoma affecting children and adolescents is rhabdomyosarcoma, there are many other types of this rare cancer. Researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital recently evaluated the treatment outcomes for young persons with non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma. Soft-tissue sarcoma, a rare cancer in children ...

New Combination Therapy for Soft-Tissue Sarcoma of the Arm or Leg May Spare Limb 02/22/2002
When a soft-tissue sarcoma, a type of cancer, develops in an arm or leg, amputation of that limb is sometimes necessary. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are sometimes used in an attempt to spare the limb. Now, researchers from Italy report that they have used an alternative method: to ...

Paclitaxel Shows Activity against Angiosarcoma of the Scalp and Face 02/22/2002
Angiosarcomas are rare cancers that develop from the body’s blood vessels or lymph system vessels. Depending on the specific location and stage of an angiosarcoma, treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. Researchers are continuing to develop new treatments in an effort to improve the survival time ...

Radiation Therapy Is Beneficial after Surgery and Chemotherapy in Children with Rhabdomyosarcoma, Types Alveolar and Undifferentiated 02/22/2002
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a childhood disease characterized by the growth of cancer cells in the muscle tissue somewhere in the body. Treatment of RMS usually involves surgery to remove the cancer, followed by chemotherapy. It has not been proven whether the additional use of radiation therapy might also ...

Dose-intensive Epirubicin and Ifosfamide Followed By Surgery is an Effective Approach for the Treatment of Adults with Soft Tissue Sarcomas 02/22/2002
Adult advanced soft tissue sarcomas include: malignant fibrous histiocytoma, leiomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, liposarcoma, angiosarcoma and fhabdomyosarcoma. The cancers are rare and should be treated in medical centers that treat a lot of patients with these diagnoses. As a generality these patients respond poorly to chemotherapy and the focus ...

High-Dose Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alfa and Melphalan Administered via Isolated Limb Perfusion for Advanced Limb Soft Tissue Sarcoma Results in a Response Rate Over 90% and Limb Preservation 02/22/2002
Recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alfa is a highly potential anti-cancer agent. However, its administration in humans has resulted in a life-threatening shock-like syndrome, and its use has been largely abandoned. The administration of high-dose tumor necrosis factor-alfa and melphalan via isolated limb perfusion eliminates the systemic side effects and ...