Division of Solid Tumor Oncology
Bone Tumor & Soft Tissue Sarcoma Program
Sarcomas are very rare tumors of the connective tissue. There are different types of connective tissues like fat cells, nerve cells, bones cells, or muscle cells. Whenever any one of them becomes cancerous it forms a sarcoma. Sarcomas are rare tumors and comprise about 1% of adult cancers. What makes them more unique is that there are over 100 different subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma, each with its unique characteristics. Given the rarity and the heterogeneity of sarcoma, NCCN (National Cancer Consortium) guidelines necessitate patients to be evaluated by specialized sarcoma centers for best outcomes.
The approach to sarcoma treatments varies based on location, condition and age of the patient, and size, grade and subtype of the tumor. Hence treatment decisions are to be made by a multidisciplinary team to get the best outcomes for patients.
Atrayee Basu Mallick, MD serves as the Enterprise Director of the Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Center and the leader of the multidisciplinary (multi-D) team, Dr. Basu Mallick has dedicated her career to formulate the best treatment plan for each patient. The team works in active collaboration with other physicians and supportive care services through shared decision-making, using the most up-to-date diagnostic technology, and treatment options including clinical trials available at Jefferson. Each patient's journey is unique and she is honored to be a part of it.
How We Make a Difference
The Jefferson Bone Tumor and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Center:
- Is one of the United States’ few complete sarcoma centers – leading to better patient outcomes overall. We have considerable expertise in treating rare, varied and difficult types of soft tissue sarcoma and bone cancers including chondrosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma and osteosarcoma.
- Holds biweekly tumor board meetings to discuss complex cases, referred locally and throughout the tri-state area, to develop the best options for management and sequencing of therapy as well as to find relevant clinical trials where applicable. These discussions also facilitate the activation of appropriate clinical trials based on our patient population and referral base.
- Has a designated, experienced multi-D team that meets with patients and their support persons conveniently in a single visit, as well as a designated patient navigator to help ease and coordinate the patient experience. The team frequently supplies second opinions per request.
- Includes experts who specialize in soft tissue and bone sarcoma pathology, orthopedic oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, musculoskeletal radiology, medical oncology, cardiothoracic surgery, otolaryngology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, plastic surgery, reproductive medicine and musculoskeletal rehabilitation all under the same roof.
- Combines our NCI designated Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center oncology services with the orthopedic expertise of Rothman Orthopaedics at Jefferson Health.
- Has a dedicated musculoskeletal radiology team specializing in diagnosis and therapeutic interventions for sarcoma patients.
- Integrates a dedicated team of anesthesiologists and rehabilitation medicine physicians who have developed protocols specifically for musculoskeletal oncology patients to optimize their experience while undergoing surgery, during rehabilitation, and returning to function with the highest quality of life possible.
- Has a very active supportive care team including nutritionists, social workers, pain management specialists and physical and occupational therapists.
- Offers patients the most advanced treatment options in the form of clinical trials in various phases. Patients have access to new and developing drugs in the field due to our robust phase 1 clinical trial portfolio.
- Collaborates with translational and basic laboratory scientists on research projects that stem from cases presented in the multi-D clinic. An example of this are efforts to elucidate molecular pathways and identify novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for chondrosarcoma and chordoma.
Multidisciplinary Team
Scot Brown, MD
Division Chief, Orthopaedic Oncology at Rothman Orthopaedics
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, SKMC
As an orthopedic oncologist, I specialize in the surgical treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Given their rarity and the need for coordination with other services, our multidisciplinary approach at the Bone and Sarcoma Center at Jefferson Health is critical to getting it right the first time. Surgically I have access to the latest technology for navigation of bone resection and complex limb salvage reconstruction. Being a part of Jefferson I am fortunate to be able to collaborate with experts in other services (Spine, ENT, Plastics, Hand, and Urology, just to name a few) to ensure the best possible outcomes for my patients.
Wei Jiang, MD, PhD, FASCP
Associate Professor
Director, GI/Liver/Pancreas Pathology
Department of Pathology, Anatomy & Cell Biology, SKMC
Director, Translational Research/Pathology Shared Resource
In the past decade, the advancement of molecular technology has brought significant changes in soft tissue and bone sarcoma diagnosis and treatment. Precise classification of tumors with their molecular signature is the foundation for current precision medicine, in guiding oncology treatment. Here at Jefferson, we have brought in house state-of-the-art diagnostic technologies, including new markers in immunohistochemistry, Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) studies and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) RNA-based comprehensive gene fusion panel (99 oncogenic genes), with fast turn-around time, providing the tools for timely and accurate diagnosis. As a pathologist with subspecialty expertise in sarcoma, I will keep working with our multidisciplinary team to provide the best care for our patients.
Diane Deely, MD
Assistant Professor
Director, Musculoskelatal (MSK) Radiology Intervention
Department of Radiology, SKMC
Our Musculoskeletal Radiology Division at Jefferson Health brings a unique contribution to our team of sarcoma experts in that we combine both comprehensive diagnostic skills and the interventional skills necessary to assist in the diagnosis and care of sarcoma patients. As Director of MSK Intervention I personally bring thirty years of experience to Jefferson. Together with our cohesive group of diagnostic and interventional MSK radiologists, Drs. William Morrison, Adam Zoga, Suzanne Long, Johannes Roedl, Jeff Belair, Vishal Desai and Sarah Kamel, we provide timely percutaneous multi-modality image-guided biopsies to aid in diagnosis, as well as the occasional palliative treatment of recurrent or metastatic disease, eg. ablation and cement augmentation.
Jacqueline (Jackie) Gutmann, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Reproductive Medicine Associates (RMA)
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, SKMC
Infertility takes many forms. As a reproductive endocrinologist, my role is to ensure that those individuals facing obstacles to family building receive the care they need to overcome those obstacles. One such obstacle is cancer, the treatment of which can diminish or destroy fertility. As experts in family building, we work with patients and their care team to address the impact of their cancer and cancer treatment on fertility by providing information on the options that are available to them and working together to determine the appropriate path forward, which may include the cryopreservation of eggs or sperm prior to treatment. Being part of the multidisciplinary team at Jefferson allows us to maximize the ability of individuals facing cancer treatment who wish to have children in the future retain the ability to do so.
Nadar Hanna, MD, FACS, FSSO
Professor of Surgery
Enterprise Surgeon Leader for Surgery Oncology
Vice Chair, Cancer Services
Director, Division of Surgical Oncology
| As a fellowship trained surgical oncologist my clinical practice is exclusively dedicated to comprehensive evaluation and complex surgical management of cancer patients, including extremity and truncal soft tissue sarcoma. As a member of the NCI Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, I work along with my colleague from various specialties to evaluate sarcoma patients in our comprehensive multi-disciplinary clinic. This allows us to offer a unique personalized comprehensive treatment plan for each of our patients, including participation in the latest clinical trials. Our sarcoma expert team provide immediate access to consultations and second opinions for newly diagnosed/recurrent/metastatic sarcoma. Our rehabilitation and survivorship programs help maximize patient survival and functional recovery and outcomes. At Jefferson, we save lives. Choosing to come to Jefferson for your cancer care is a privilege that we honor and value. |
Wilbur Bowne, MD, FACS
Professor
Department of Sugery, SKMC
As a surgical oncologist, I specialize in the surgical treatment of sarcoma and advanced abdominal malignancies. Sarcoma is rare disease-entity and treatment at a high volume center is essential to assure the best possible outcome. I work closely with our multidisciplinary group of sarcoma specialists at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital to establish an optimal evidence-based treatment plan for your tumor. Our team investigates the treatment of sarcomas, especially abdominal and retroperitoneal sarcomas along with state of the art advanced radiation techniques and chemotherapeutic strategies together with aggressive surgical resection to minimize local recurrence to assure the best possible outcome. We take great pride in being a multidisciplinary sarcoma team that treats the most complex patient situations whatever the circumstances or nature of the condition.
General & Oncologic Surgery
Karen Chojnacki, MD
Francis E. Rosato Professor of Surgery
Director, General Surgery Residency Program
Director, Division of General Surgery
Vice Chair, Clinical Operations
Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education, Surgical Division
Department of Surgery, SKMC
Francesco Palazzo, MD, FACS, FASMBS, FCPP
Professor
Associate Program Director, Advanced GI, MIS & Bariatric Surgery Fellowship
Department of Surgery, SKMC
Chief of Surgery, Jefferson Methodist Hospital
Vice Chair of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Radiation Oncology
Erik Blomain, MD, PhD
Instructor
Department of Radiation Oncology, SKMC
Plastic Surgery
Matthew P. Jenkins, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Enterprise Surgeon Leader for Plastic Surgery
Director, Division of Plastic Surgery
Department of Surgery, SKMC
Andrew Newman, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Surgery, SKMC
Support Services
Silpi Sinha Ray
Patient Navigator
Cancer Programs
Molly Vocino, MSW, LCSW
Social Worker
Oncology Infusion Program
Melissa Denton, RDN, CNSC, CSO, LDN
Manager, Clinical Nutrition
Oncology Infusion Program