Along with members of the pathology, radiation oncology, and medical oncology departments, I design treatment plans that optimize my patients’ chance for a cure. As much as possible, each patient should be able to return to normal after surgery. I almost always perform limb-sparing procedures for tumors on the legs and arms. When it is safe to do so, I use laparoscopic and minimally invasive techniques for tumors in and around the abdomen.
After surgery, I follow my patients long-term to help them deal with any side effects. I closely monitor patients who are at an increased risk of developing a second sarcoma, such as those with Gardner’s syndrome or neurofibromatosis. If we detect those tumors early, we can reduce the long-term complications.
In addition to seeing patients, I conduct an active research program. I look at the genetic errors that lead to the development of soft tissue tumors, such as liposarcomas, solitary fibrous tumors, and desmoid-type fibromatosis. These changes can be used to identify new drugs to treat the tumors. The research can also help us predict which patients may benefit most from specific treatments. My work has been funded by a range of organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the Food and Drug Administration, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American College of Surgeons, and the Kristen Ann Carr Foundation.
I am actively involved in teaching other doctors about caring for people with sarcoma. I also write articles, book chapters, and reviews on the management and biology of soft tissue sarcomas, and serve on multiple editorial boards. I am on the board of the Melanoma and Sarcoma Disease Site Working Group for the Society of Surgical Oncology and I chair the Scientific Advisory Board of the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation. My leadership roles and research allow me to continuously improve treatment, not only for my own patients and those of our team but also for soft tissue sarcoma patients around the world.
