Dr. Bailey Discusses the Treatment of Pediatric Patients With Sarcoma

Kelly Bailey, MD, PhD, physician, department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, discusses the treatment of pediatric patients with sarcoma.

Bailey says that while physicians have their go-to cytotoxic therapy for the treatment of osteosarcoma or Ewing sarcoma at relapse, there are many exciting agents in development. For example, there is an LSD-1 inhibitor in development, as well as inhibitors trying to target the EWS/FLI-1 fusion protein in Ewing sarcoma. There are a lot of exciting agents out there, Bailey says, but without biopsy information, the optimal use of these agents is unknown.

A tissue biopsy is recommended when a patient relapses, Bailey says. Although, the concept of liquid biopsies and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may be a way to detect relapse or persistent disease at a low level when there is no radiographic evidence. Also, observing the circulating tumors cells and ctDNA are a way to monitor how tumors change over time, Bailey adds.