PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — The National Comprehensive Cancer Network announced it has published new NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Pediatric Soft Tissue Sarcomas, expanding its library of cancer care guidelines to 91 topics.
The guidelines focus on rhabdomyosarcoma, or RMS, the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in people under age 20, representing nearly 5% of all childhood cancers, according to the organization.
The new guidelines are available for free at NCCN.org.
Stephen Skapek, MD, of Duke Cancer Institute and chair of the NCCN Guidelines Panel for Pediatric Soft Tissue Sarcoma, said cancers in children differ significantly from those in adults.
“Most cancers that occur in children are fundamentally different from cancers occurring in adults,” Skapek said. “RMS can be divided into specific subtypes that are driven by different genetic changes that can influence outcomes.”
He said those genetic and clinical features are incorporated into treatment planning, adding that a multidisciplinary group of experts developed recommendations for diagnosis, risk stratification and treatment.
Douglas Hawkins, MD, of Seattle Children’s and vice-chair of the panel, said treatment goals for young children extend beyond survival.
“When treating someone so young, you are not looking to just prolong survival, the goal is a full cure with minimal side effects and zero recurrence,” Hawkins said.
Rhabdomyosarcoma can occur in various parts of the body, including the head, neck, limbs or internal organs, and may present as a lump or cause symptoms such as breathing or urinary problems, according to the NCCN.
The disease is categorized into three major risk groups with varying survival rates. Treatment typically includes chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy, and is tailored based on risk group, age and developmental stage, the organization said.
The NCCN said its guidelines are updated at least once a year and are available for free download through NCCN.org and the NCCN Guidelines App. The organization reported that its guidelines were downloaded more than 18.4 million times in 2025.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network is a nonprofit alliance of cancer centers focused on patient care, research and education.
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