Targeted Cancers

The central nervous system is a common site for cancers in both adults and children. Some cancers start in the brain or spinal cord, while others spread to these organs from another site in the body.

The most common cancers originating in the central nervous system are gliomas, but many other histologic types occur as well. Read more about the treatment of these tumors here.

The treatment of breast cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. For localized breast cancer (that is, breast cancer that is confined to the breast and the regional lymph nodes located under the arm and sternum, and has not spread through the bloodstream to distant sites such as bone, liver, lung, or brain), surgery is the most important of these treatments.

The treatment of breast cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. For localized breast cancer (that is, breast cancer that is confined to the breast and the regional lymph nodes located under the arm and sternum, and has not spread through the bloodstream to distant sites such as bone, liver, lung, or brain), surgery is the most important of these treatments. Read more about breast cancer here.

The most common pediatric cancers involve the brain (brain tumors), immune system (leukemias and lymphomas), and connective tissue (bone sarcomas or soft-tissue sarcomas). Rare tumors include kidney cancer such as Wilms’ tumor and cancer of the peripheral nervous system such as neuroblastoma. Even rarer are cancers of the eye (retinoblastoma), liver (hepatoblastoma), and reproductive organs.

Read more about the treatment of childhood cancers here.

Hodgkin’s disease is a cancer arising from the lymph nodes. It is often found in older children and young adults. The main treatments for Hodgkin’s disease are radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

If the disease is located in only one or two areas on one side of the diaphragm—that is, either confined to the neck and chest or confined to the abdomen and/or pelvis—the Hodgkin’s disease is considered “early stage.” Patients with early-stage disease are often treated with either radiation therapy alone or 2 or 3 cycles of chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy, with an excellent chance of cure and a low chance of complications.

More advanced Hodgkin’s disease is usually treated with more chemotherapy, and radiation to sites of involvement. Even for advanced-stage or recurrent Hodgkin’s disease, cure is often possible. Read more about the treatment of lymphomas here.

At the University of Florida, gynecologic cancer is managed with a team approach involving close interaction between a gynecologic surgical oncologist and a radiation oncologist who specializes in radiation therapy for gynecologic cancer.

Before a treatment plan is recommended, most cases are discussed at a conference by a group of medical specialists with expertise in the diagnosis and management of gynecologic cancer. Read more about the treatment of gynecologic cancers here.

The two major modalities for treating head and neck cancer are radiation therapy and surgery. The treatment of choice depends on the site, extent, and cell type (histology) of the cancer. Most cancers of the head and neck region are squamous cell carcinomas.

In general, early-stage cancers are best treated by one modality (either surgery or radiation therapy) rather than a combination of the two treatments. Read more about head and neck cancer here.

The three major treatment modalities for lung cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The preferred treatment(s) for a specific patient depend on several factors, including cell type (histology) of the tumor, its location in the lungs, the extent of tumor spread to lymph nodes in the immediate area, and the presence or absence of distant metastases (that is, spread to other parts of the body).

Lung cancers are generally divided into two major histologic categories, small cell and non-small cell carcinomas. Read more about the treatment of lung cancer here.

The genitourinary oncology staff at the University of Florida form a comprehensive, multidisciplinary oncology service. Faculty physicians from Radiation Oncology, Urologic Surgical Oncology, and Medical Oncology all maintain clinical services within the Shands Cancer Center, with patients seen by any or all indicated services every weekday.

A weekly multidisciplinary tumor conference, or tumor board, is held on Tuesday mornings to review new and active clinical cases, with formulation of treatment recommendations based on both institutional and national clinical research and experience. Read more about the treatment of prostate and bladder cancer here.

The treatment for rectal cancer depends on the location and extent of the tumor. The goals of treatment are to cure the malignancy and to do so without a permanent colostomy. Early-stage rectal cancers may be treated either with endocavitary irradiation alone or transanal excision. Tumors that may be somewhat less favorable are often treated with a transanal excision combined with either preoperative or postoperative radiation therapy.

More advanced rectal cancers require removal of part or all of the rectum. Read more about these cancers here.

Soft-tissue sarcomas are rare malignancies that arise from the muscles and connective tissues. These tumors most often occur in the arms or legs, but may occur anywhere in the body.

The main treatment for soft-tissue sarcomas is surgery.  If the tumor is not very aggressive and can be removed with a wide margin, this is the only treatment that is necessary.  However, if the tumor contains a very aggressive cell type (histologically high-grade), if it is believed that surgical margins will be close to the tumor, or (if surgery was the first step in treatment) if the margins from the operation were close, radiation therapy is used either before the operation or shortly afterward to reduce the chance that the cancer will recur and improve the odds of cure. Read more about soft-tissue sarcomas here.

Skin cancer is usually treated with surgery; often, Mohs’ excision is used for more advanced tumors and for those that are recurrent after prior excision.  Tumors that are located on or around structures that would be difficult to reconstruct after resection, such as the eyelids, external ears, nose, and lips, may be treated with radiation therapy.

Before any treatment is started, the recommended treatment, the reasons it is recommended, the procedures to be carried out, the expected or possible side effects or complications, and the expected benefits are all explained to the patient and family. The patient must give permission for treatment, based on this knowledge (“informed consent”), before treatment is given. Read more about skin cancer treatment here.