The Advantages of Precision Medicine for the Treatment of Osteosarcoma in Children

Osteosarcoma begins as a result of a mutation in the DNA of a healthy bone cell. The mutation prompts the cell to start making new bone when it isn’t needed, and the result is a mass (tumor) of cancer cells that appear to be early forms of bone cells that normally help make new bone tissue, but the osteosarcoma bone tissue is not as strong as that of normal bones. Osteosarcoma cells can invade and destroy the healthy body tissue around them, and even break away and spread (metastasize) throughout the body, usually to the lungs or other bones.

The treatment of osteosarcoma in children can be complex, so it is crucial to choose a medical center staffed with top-tier cancer specialists and medical experts with experience in a wide range of disciplines for treatment. However, treatment options are available. A treatment plan for pediatric osteosarcoma must take the tumor’s type, size, and location into consideration, and may include surgery, chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and radiation therapy.

Personalized medicine involves using advanced diagnostic tools to identify the unique genetic and molecular profile of each patient and applying tailored therapies accordingly. The last decade saw a giant leap forward in the genomic sequencing of malignancies, and leading medical institutions can now use the latest genomic diagnostic tools to identify the optimal therapies for a particular patient, ensuring that they receive the most effective treatment and avoids the negative effects of less suitable options. The advantages of personalized medicine include:

• Preempting disease progression
• Tailoring treatment to a patient’s unique needs
• Prescribing more effective drugs
• Optimizing the risk-benefit ratio of therapies
• Avoiding the administration of drugs with predictable side effects
• Eliminating trial-and-error inefficiencies that undermine patient care

At Sheba Medical Center, our Hemato-Oncology Division has a specialized interest in applying precision medicine for bone and soft tissue sarcomas. We use these advanced tools to aid in both diagnosing malignancies and tailoring a treatment plan for each individual patient – and for each stage of the disease.

• Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH): A test that “maps” the genetic material in a person’s cells.
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): A laboratory technique used to make many copies of a specific piece of DNA to more easily identify certain changes in a gene or chromosome, which can help locate and diagnose a malignancy.
• Next-generation sequencing, such as gene panel sequencing (DNA and RNA), mutation profile characterization, methylation profile, and response markers for immunotherapies.

Having discovered a few of the many advantages of getting treatment for pediatric osteosarcoma in Israel, where exactly should you pursue it? Sheba Medical Center is an exceptional choice. One of the 10 best hospitals in the world according to Newsweek magazine, Sheba is dedicated to providing patients with world-class medical care.

Within our Department of Sarcomas and Bone Tumors, Sheba is actively involved in exciting clinical studies to develop new treatments for osteosarcoma in children.

The advantages of receiving treatment at Sheba Medical Center include:

• Sheba treats children with a holistic approach, keeping in mind that cancer can have devastating effects on the physical and emotional well-being of your child and his/her entire family, which is why we offer a variety of support services.
• Antiangiogenesis: Antiangiogenesis is a breakthrough treatment for metastatic sarcoma, which inhibits the development of blood vessels that feed metastases. Research trials showed that in 46% of the patients who received the therapy, the enlargement of 31% of the metastases was stopped.
• As a government institution, we have no hidden costs, and our fees are transparent. Although we offer advanced treatments that are available only in select medical institutions around the world, our prices are affordable.
• Sheba treats each patient as a unique individual, personalizing every therapy program.
• Sheba’s 360-degree care approach to every patient, which means that Sheba’s professionals will assist you with arranging medical record reviews, travel, visas, accommodations, and language interpretation as needed.
• Sheba has full accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI), the premier international healthcare accrediting group.
• Sheba has both advanced treatment and laboratory facilities. At Sheba, patients receive every aspect of their treatment in a single facility.
• Our physicians are actively involved in the latest research and application of progressive treatments.