Experimental Treatments

From Scratchpad

[edit] Introduction

DSRCT is a rare cancer and unfortunately there is no standardized protocol to follow. The result has been that individual patients are often faced or interested in using experimental treatment. This is not the same as Alternative or Complementary treatment. Generally this is treatment that may be used for other types of cancers or is treatment that is untested.

[edit] Assay-Directed Therapy

Assay-directed therapy involves taking a sample of the tumor and sending it to a lab where it will be tested to see which chemo will treat it most effectively.

Oncotech provides innovative molecular oncology testing services for doctors and patients. Requires a tumor specimen which is tested for chemosensitivity against various chemicals. Some of the chems tested for soft tissue sarcoma include Doxirubicin, Ifosomide, Temozolomide, Cisplatin, Taxotere, Gemcitabine, and Topetecan.

Rational Therapeutics develops and provides recommendations for individual cancers based on drug activity (sensitivity and resistance). The lab may require patient to travel to Southern California to gather a tumor speciman and for treatment. Patients need to be well enough to undergo chemotherapy.