Dr. Singh on Challenges in Leiomyosarcoma Treatment

Arun S. Singh, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, discusses the challenges of treating patients with leiomyosarcoma.

Many patients with leiomyosarcoma are diagnosed in later stages of disease. This issue partially stems from the overlap between leiomyosarcoma and fibroids, says Singh. Fibroids, which are smooth muscle growths, are a very prevalent problem in women. Leiomyosarcoma is a smooth muscle cancer, and many women who go in for surgery thinking they have fibroids, come out to find they have leiomyosarcoma.

Singh says that this is the biggest problem in deciding how to treat the disease, as surgery for fibroids differs greatly from surgery for leiomyosarcoma. Additionally, the issue of patients being diagnosed later in their disease course makes intervention more difficult.