Cedars-Sinai’s Leo Mascarenhas, MD, MS, is shedding light on new treatment options for pediatric patients diagnosed with sarcoma, a type of cancer affecting bones or soft tissues. As the director of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s and the medical director of the Sarcoma Program at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Mascarenhas emphasizes the importance of expert care and multidisciplinary teams in treating sarcomas.
He stresses the need for comprehensive support, including expert nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, to help patients and their families cope with the challenges of treatment. Psychological support and connections to support groups are also vital.
Mascarenhas highlights the progress made in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric sarcomas, emphasizing the development of custom treatment plans for each patient based on their disease stage and surgical outcomes. He also discusses the significance of genetic and molecular genetics research in understanding the biology of sarcomas and advancing new treatment approaches.
One specific advancement highlighted by Mascarenhas is the identification of NTRK fusion sarcomas, a unique type of sarcoma primarily affecting very young children. Understanding the genetics of these sarcomas has led to the utilization of a drug called larotrectinib, which has shown promise in shrinking NTRK fusion sarcomas and improving patient outcomes.
