Ewing's Sarcoma Treatments

Treatment

Treatment involves a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Typically patients are first treated with chemotherapy for 8-12 weeks, followed by a CT or MRI scan to evaluate the tumor. Depending upon the tumor size and location, either surgery or radiation follows. Chemotherapy then resumes for several months after surgery or radiation.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy drugs are used to kill tumor cells. The medications used to treat this tumor include vincristine (Oncovin) , dactinomycin (Actinomycin D) , cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) , doxorubicin (Adriamycin) , ifosfamide (Ifex) , and etoposide (VePesid) . Your doctor will prescribe a combination of these drugs to be given over a set time. This usually means every 2-4 weeks for several months.

Surgery

Surgery may be used to remove the tumor, as well as rebuild the affected bone. Depending upon the location of the tumor, a bone graft or prosthesis may be needed. There are special types of prostheses that expand as the bone grows. Sometimes several surgeries are needed to make sure the limb functions properly.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. It may be used with surgery or instead of surgery. It is usually given over several weeks and is followed by chemotherapy.

Future Therapy

A combination of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant is being evaluated at certain cancer centers. This combination therapy is typically used in cases where the tumor is very resistant.

Targeted chemotherapies focused on the rearranged genes and their products in Ewing’s sarcoma are being actively investigated.