Dr. Victoria Rizk (third from the left) joined by the presenters at Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute’s 2025 Sarcoma Symposium in West Palm Beach.
Health care professionals from across Florida gathered in West Palm Beach recently for the inaugural Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Cancer Institute Sarcoma Symposium. Attendees gained in-depth knowledge from expert medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, plastic surgeons and geneticists from the TGH Cancer Institute’s Sarcoma Center of Excellence, who shared cutting-edge insights on treating this complex and rare cancer of the bones and soft tissues.
The symposium attracted medical professionals representing a variety of specialties, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, pathology, radiology and genetics. Speakers covered a wide range of topics reflecting the multidisciplinary care philosophy of the TGH Cancer Institute’s Sarcoma Center of Excellence.
“This symposium is extremely important because there are not many sarcoma centers in Florida. We are one of only four in the state,” said Victoria Rizk, M.D., a medical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer and sarcoma, and serves as the Sarcoma Center of Excellence’s director. “We want Florida physicians to know we’re accessible and eager to help with their patients.”
“Since 2020, Tampa General has established a growing network of services on Florida’s East Coast. This symposium showcases the innovative care local physicians can access through Tampa General,” said Dr. Abraham Schwarzberg, executive vice president, chief of oncology and president of the Tampa General Provider Network (TGPN), and vice president of clinical and translational research, TGH-USF Health Joint Office of Clinical Research. “This is game-changing medicine that will benefit patients needing complex care in the Palm Beaches and on the Treasure Coast.”
The Sarcoma Center of Excellence at the TGH Cancer Institute offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for more than 70 types of bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Nationally acclaimed for groundbreaking contributions that continue to revolutionize cancer care, Tampa General has been recognized as “One of the Nation’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-25. The academic health system was also recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Cancer Hospitals.
In addition to complex surgical procedures, the TGH Cancer Institute offers the latest advances in sarcoma treatment, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy and brachytherapy. An innovative radiotherapy technique, brachytherapy involves the precise implantation of a small radioactive device near a sarcoma site to safely deliver a high dose of radiation to the tumor, which can effectively destroy the cancerous cells and reduce the risk of recurrence.
“We are able to provide a level of care that is not readily available in the community,” said Dr. Rizk. “Because these are often such rare and complex cases, our sarcoma center offers physicians a group setting with a multidisciplinary team, where everyone is not only familiar with this type of cancer, but also committed to achieving the best patient outcomes.”
The multidisciplinary Sarcoma Tumor Board meets weekly to review cases. While challenging each other and “thinking outside the box,” tumor board members collaboratively design a comprehensive treatment plan for each patient. These are reviewed with the patient on the same day the plan is finalized. “By working as a cohesive team in real time, we avoid delays and achieve great patient outcomes,” noted Dr. Rizk.
For example, Dr. Rizk does multidisciplinary clinics with Dr. Timothy Nywening, a Tampa General surgical oncologist. “If we do get last-minute cases, we are able to see them in person together on the same day, present their case in tumor board, and get a comprehensive treatment plan for their personal stage and diagnosis.”
The Sarcoma Center of Excellence offers second opinions, as well as telehealth options, so world-class care is available for patients no matter their location.
Dr. Rizk encourages physicians to reach out for help, understanding the challenges they face managing a rare tumor on top of their regular patient volume. “Please ask for help,” she said. “The last thing we want is for community doctors to feel isolated or unable to access world-class care or clinical trials for their patients with complex and rare tumors. We’re an extra layer of support so they feel confident they are giving the right treatment for patients closer to home.”
The Sarcoma Center of Excellence at the TGH Cancer Institute is a member of the SARC organization, an international consortium of sarcoma centers across the world that collaborate for research purposes. “With less than 5% of all cancer centers in the world qualifying for membership in SARC, the TGH Cancer Institute is part of an elite group in the fight against sarcoma.”
For more information about the Sarcoma Center of Excellence at the TGH Cancer Institute, visit TGH.org/institutes-and-services/cancer-institute/sarcoma-center-of-excellence.
