Adolescent and Young Adult Treatment and Research Program

While sarcomas are very rare cancers, they disproportionately occur in adolescents and young adults, ages 16 to 40. Treating these patients during such a busy time in their lives raises many challenges. Treatment strategies that have been effective in other cancer patients do not always have the same results in adolescents and young adults, as there are natural differences in biology and lifestyle compared to young children and older adults. The advances that have been made in cancer treatments for children and adults have not translated to adolescents and young adults, and fewer young adults participate in clinical trials.

Led by Bradley D. DeNardo, MD, a pediatric oncologist with the Lifespan Cancer Institute and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and Don S. Dizon, MD, director of medical oncology at Rhode Island Hospital, the multidisciplinary AYA sarcoma program aims to focus on caring for this population and addressing the challenges and barriers to leading-edge sarcoma treatment.

Clinicians from both pediatric oncology and medical oncology, as well as pediatric and adult specialists in surgical oncology, orthopedics, and radiation oncology, collaborate to develop unique treatment plans for AYA patients. These intensive plans take into account the unique aspects of patients at this stage of life, while offering state-of-the-art treatments for these rare cancers.

In addition, the program brings leading-edge clinical trials to the Lifespan Cancer Institute that otherwise may not have been available to this population. Dr. DeNardo and Dr. Dizon have received funding for a phase-two clinical trial combining a novel cancer therapeutic with effective chemotherapy for patients with advanced sarcomas. This clinical trial is available to eligible sarcoma patients over the age of 10 years.