Dr. Tony Philip on Soft Tissue Sarcoma Treatment Challenges

Tony Philip, MD, medical oncologist, Monter Cancer Center of the North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute, assistant professor of Medicine, Hofstra-North Shore LIJ School of Medicine and NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, discusses the challenges of treating soft tissue sarcomas.

One of the biggest challenges of soft tissue sarcomas is that there are very few oncologists that have expertise in treating the disease, as well as few pathologists that have expertise in diagnosing it, says Philip.

An accurate diagnosis from a pathologist who understands soft tissue sarcomas is key to effective treatment, he says. There are 40 subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma and they are all treated differently.

The field is evolving, though not as quickly as other cancer types. There is an unmet need for further treatment options for patients, says Philip.