The Solid Tumor Program treats infants, adolescents, and young adults with pediatric solid tumors.
These include:
- Osteosarcoma
- Ewing sarcoma
- Germ cell tumors
- Undifferentiated sarcoma
- Wilms tumor
- Neuroblastoma
- Hepatoblastoma
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
Our expert team of pediatric hematologists/oncologists specializes in treating these tumors. Sun Choo, M.D., has particular expertise in Ewing sarcoma; Jennifer Elster, M.D., specializes in both neuro-oncology and pediatric solid tumors; and Peter Zage, M.D., Ph.D., has particular expertise in neuroblastoma. (For all of our physicians, see the Team listing below.) For a variety of solid tumors, we are increasingly using personalized medicine.
We work closely with the various surgical teams, who are all active participants in our multidisciplinary tumor boards. Our team collaborates frequently with the Pediatric Surgery program for solid organ, chest wall, and soft tissue tumors. We also work with the Urology program to treat patients with genitourinary tract tumors such as rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder/prostate and testicular germ cell tumors.
For patients requiring radiation therapy, we work closely with Iain MacEwan, M.D. Dr. MacEwan oversees the care of our patients at both the Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego and at the California Protons Cancer Therapy Center through our Proton Therapy program. Learn about radiation therapy for pediatric cancers.
Additionally, the team relies on the expertise of the Acute Pain Service and Hematology/Oncology Supportive Care Program, specifically JoAnne Auger, R.N., CHPPN, supportive care nurse for the Peckham Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders, and Kimberly Bower, M.D., who serves as a palliative care consultant/hospice liaison, to assist with symptom management and provide multidisciplinary psychosocial support to patients and their families.
The program’s research component will involve biologic and therapeutic clinical trials (cooperative group, industry-sponsored, principal investigator-initiated), many of which utilize novel agents, as well as quality improvement projects specifically targeting patients with solid tumors. Learn about the Peckham Center’s cancer clinical trials.
Team
Sun Choo M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UC San Diego
Jennifer Elster, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UC San Diego
Peter Zage M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor-in-Residence, UC San Diego