Bone Cancer Treatment

Surgery is the most common treatment for sarcomas. Surgical resection consists of removal of the entire cancerous part, inclusive of a cuff or margin of normal tissue surrounding the mass, and in one piece, to ensure that every cancerous cell is removed.

At The University of Kansas Cancer Center, we provide the most advanced surgical treatments for sarcoma – including those not available anywhere else in the region. Our dedicated bone/soft-tissue pathology team is present in the operating room and assists in ensuring that every last cancer cell is removed.

We are the only cancer center in the region using 3D printed surgical guides for more precise bone tumor removal. These guides are tailored to your anatomy and specific bone tumor and help your care team preplan your treatment. With these guides, the amount of tumor removed is maximized while the amount of healthy bone taken is minimized. Our sarcoma specialists use novel reconstruction techniques and work closely with prosthetic device manufacturers to offer the most customized options available.

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. There are 2 types of radiotherapy:

• External radiotherapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer.
• Internal radiotherapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer.

The way you receive radiotherapy depends on the type and stage of your cancer.

Chemotherapy uses medicines to destroy cancer cells or to alter their metabolism. You may receive it before or after surgery. Our doctors develop new chemotherapy drugs based on clinical research trial results. These drugs treat specific cells or the way cells grow, including:

• Targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without affecting healthy cells
• Drugs that prevent the formation of blood vessels that feed tumors

These can be used with regular chemotherapy and surgery, when needed.

Interventional radiology uses several advanced techniques, such as:

• Radioembolization: Cutting off the blood supply to the tumor 
• Radiofrequency ablation: Destroying tumor tissue with heat 
• Chemoembolization: Injecting anticancer drugs directly into the blood vessel feeding a cancerous tumor
• Microwave ablation: Injecting microwave energy, similar to your microwave at home, through a fine needle to destroy cancer cells
• Calypso® 4D Localization System™: Using leading-edge technology to track the movement of targeted tissue for more accurate delivery of energy

We offer a minimally invasive treatment option for metastatic and benign spinal tumors. Spinal tumor radiofrequency ablation is only available in the Kansas City region at The University of Kansas Health System, including the health system’s Indian Creek Campus and The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Using the STAR™ Tumor Ablation System, physicians are able to shrink spinal tumors using a probe that emits heat generated by radiofrequency energy. This delivers rapid and sustained pain relief. Many people report dramatic pain relief within 24 hours of the outpatient procedure.

Radiofrequency ablation is performed in a single treatment, often taking less than 90 minutes. With their pain eased, those with cancerous tumors – and their care team – can focus on the cancer treatment without interruption.

Radiofrequency ablation may also offer a treatment option for people who have reached their maximum radiation dose limits or those with radiotherapy-resistant tumors.

By beginning with the STAR procedure before any other treatments, you may have a more comfortable radiation or chemotherapy treatment process.

STAR benefits:

• Rapid back pain relief through a minimally invasive, targeted, outpatient procedure
• Compatible with patients’ current cancer treatments
• Alternative for people who have reached their cumulative radiation dose limit
• Potential treatment for radiation-resistant tumors

Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. Hormones are substances produced by glands in the body and circulated in the bloodstream. Some hormones can cause certain cancers to grow. If tests show the cancer cells have places where hormones can attach (receptors), chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy is used to reduce the production of hormones or block them from working.