Sarcomas

Abstract

Malignant bone tumors (osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma) and soft-tissue sarcomas (rhabdomyosarcoma, nonrhabdomyosarcoma) account for approximately 14% of childhood malignancies. Successful treatment of patients with sarcoma depends on a multidisciplinary approach to therapy, including oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, radiology, pathology, and physiatry. By combining systemic treatment with chemotherapy and primary tumor control using surgery and/or radiation, survival rates for localized disease range from 70% to 75%. However, children with metastatic or recurrent disease continue to have dismal outcomes. A better understanding of the biology underlying both bone and soft-tissue sarcomas is required to further improve outcomes for children with these tumors.

Keywords: Bone; Ewing’s; Nonrhabdomyosarcoma; Osteosarcoma; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Soft-tissue sarcoma.