Oncology Leaders Share Advances in Bone and Soft Tissue Cancers

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and the Medical College of Wisconsin hosted the “2024 Advances in Musculoskeletal Oncology Symposium” Jan. 25-26 in Miami.

Experts from cancer centers in the U.S. and Canada discussed musculoskeletal cancers, including sarcoma, a group of cancers that begin in the bones and the soft tissues and can occur anywhere on the body, including in muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons and joint linings.

“This symposium is more than just a conference. It’s a multidisciplinary meeting, with clinicians and scientists together in the same room sharing cutting-edge diagnostic, biological and therapeutic discoveries,” said Jonathan Trent, M.D., Ph.D., director of sarcoma oncology at Sylvester. “It’s a pivotal gathering that represents the collective effort in the fight against cancer, symbolizing hope, progress and the relentless pursuit of a cancer-free world.”

Collaborative Cancer Care

This year’s meeting, themed “Precision and Progress,” was a testament to the shared commitment between the two cancer centers to improve cancer care through collective expertise and efforts.

“The partnership between the University of Miami and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) originated from an initial connection formed several years ago, when Dr. Trent served as a visiting professor at MCW. During his visit, what really stood out was the collaborative spirit in advancing cancer care,” said Meena Bedi, M.D., M.S., vice chair and professor of radiation oncology and the Sharon K. Wadina Endowed Chair in Sarcoma Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin “This experience laid the foundation for our burgeoning professional relationships. Over time, our institutions have worked together on various academic and clinical projects, including co-authoring papers and developing guidelines. Most recently, our collaboration was exemplified in the successful organization of this symposium.”

What’s New in Multidisciplinary Cancer Care

Representatives from a variety of disciplines, from hematologists, oncologists and surgical and radiation oncologists to orthopedic surgeons, pharmacists and allied health professionals, attended the symposium. The event highlighted the latest research, innovative treatments and emerging technologies in musculoskeletal and sarcoma oncology.

“This includes breakthroughs in targeted therapies, novel surgical techniques and advances in the care of patients with localized and metastatic bone and soft tissue sarcomas,” Dr. Trent said.

World-renowned sarcoma scientist David Kirsch, M.D., Ph.D., Peter and Shelagh Godsoe Chair in Radiation Medicine and head of radiation and radiation oncology at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, delivered the conference’s keynote address, “Opportunities and Challenges of Combining Radiation Therapy and Immunotherapy for Soft Tissue Sarcomas.”

Tags: Dr. Jonathan Trent, sarcoma, soft tissue sarcomas, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center