Bone and Soft-Tissue Sarcoma
UC Davis Cancer Center is a regional referral center for the treatment of bone and soft-tissue sarcomas cancers that affect bone, muscle, cartilage, blood vessels and other connective tissues in the body. Our physicians have extensive expertise in the treatment of these uncommon cancers in children and adults alike, and routinely handle the most difficult cases from throughout inland Northern California, Western Nevada and Southern Oregon.
The treatment of bone and soft-tissue sarcoma at UC Davis Cancer Center includes the care of specialists in surgical oncology, radiation oncology, pediatric and adult medical oncology, pathology, radiology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, vascular surgery and orthopaedic oncology. The treatment team also includes nurses with advanced training in oncology, social workers, registered dietitians and clinical research associates.
These experts all work together to develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Our physicians have two goals: to cure the cancer and to give patients the best chance of returning to their normal activities as fully and quickly as possible.
Comprehensive treatment
Bone and soft-tissue sarcomas are typically treated with some combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Although the exact approach varies depending on the specific type of cancer, a combined approach usually offers the best chance to treat the disease successfully.
Radiation therapy for bone and soft-tissue sarcomas at UC Davis Cancer Center may take one of two forms: interstitial brachytherapy or external beam radiation therapy. Interstitial brachytherapy involves directly implanting tiny radioactive "seeds" in the tumor bed in the operating room. External beam radiation therapy at UC Davis Cancer Center is highly image-guided. Depending on the type of tumor, intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or three-dimensional conformal therapy (3DCRT) may be used. These techniques allow high doses of radiation to be delivered to the tumor while minimizing the dose to surrounding normal tissues.
Chemotherapy involves the administration of medications that are designed to "kill" cancer cells, both in the original tumor as well as any that may be circulating in microscopic amounts through the bloodstream. Chemotherapy may be given before surgery or radiation to shrink the size of the original tumor and after surgery or radiation to kill any small amounts of cancer that may remain.
Clinical trials
UC Davis Cancer Center is home to one of the largest clinical trials programs in the nation, offering studies originated by Cancer Center physicians as well as studies offered through major clinical trials organizations such as the Southwest Oncology Group and the Children's Oncology Group. These studies can offer our bone and soft-tissue sarcoma patients access to new drugs and therapies that are frequently unavailable elsewhere.
Collaboration, innovation and hope
Close collaboration between our doctors and our research scientists means that new treatments developed in the laboratory can move quickly to the clinic, immediately benefiting our patients.
The treatment team
Surgical Oncology
Vijay Khatri, M.D.
Associate Professor of Surgical Oncology
Robert Canter, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Hematology and Oncology
Scott Christensen, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Orthopaedic Oncology
Robert M. Tamurian, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Jonathan M. Ducore, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Hematology and Oncology
Co-Director, Hemophilia Treatment Center
Daniel C. West, M.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Theodore Zwerdling, M.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Douglas Taylor, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Hematology and Oncology
Director, Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Care closer to home
New patient appointments
To make an appointment, please call (916) 703-5210 or (800) 362-5566.
Updated 3/2009

