Unraveling a Complex Disease: Gary K. Schwartz, MD, on Sarcoma Research Highlights, Targeted Agents & Future Directions

Sarcoma represents an incredibly rare group of cancers comprised of 50 histologic subtypes, with approximately 13,000 new diagnoses per year. Each histologic type exhibits a unique biologic behavior, and, as such, prognosis and optimal treatment strategies vary. Sarcoma can appear anywhere in the body, and local invasion of nearby organs may make surgical resection difficult or impossible. This makes sarcoma exceedingly complex to diagnose and treat. Today on OncTimes Talk, we interview Gary K. Schwartz, MD, and discuss treatment approaches for sarcoma, the fundamental needs of sarcoma patients, and how the oncology community at large can better understand this complex disease. Schwartz is Chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Associate Director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. With a clinical focus in melanoma and sarcoma, Schwartz is a recognized leader in the field of translational research and his work focuses on the identification of new targeted agents for cancer therapy.