World Class Sarcoma and Connective Tissue Cancer Care: Q&A with Dr. Edwin Choy

Q: What types of cancers do you most often treat in international patients?

Dr. Choy: My clinical and research work at the Center for Sarcoma and Connective Tissue Oncology is focused on sarcomas and related complex connective tissue tumors. This includes gastrointestinal stromal tumors, chordomas, desmoid tumors, tenosynovial giant cell tumors, and giant cell tumors of bone. My team and I treat adult patients (age 18 and up) at every stage, from early detection to advanced, metastatic disease.

These are rare cancers, but they affect people at any age and often go undiagnosed for too long. Because these cancers are uncommon, many patients come to us after a long and frustrating search for answers. Part of what we do is help them understand what they’re facing, and what their options are.

Sarcomas often require highly specialized care that many centers aren't equipped to provide.

Q: What do you want international patients to know about working with you?

Dr. Choy: I work closely with patients from all over the world. My goal is to provide honest guidance, thoughtful treatment recommendations, and help all patients access the tools we have available, including clinical trials, targeted therapies, and advanced procedures.

Traveling for care is a significant, often stressful, experience. But you don’t have to go through it alone. My team and I, along with the Mass General Brigham International Patient Center team, are here to support you every step of the way. That includes coordinating with your local doctors. I always encourage patients to bring reminders of home, have loved ones join or visit you, and connect with support groups.

Our International Patient Center helps patients and their families manage every detail, from visas and accommodations to insurance and post-treatment follow-up. Once you’re here, you have access to world-class care across our entire academic health system.

We also take a multidisciplinary approach to care, bringing together expertise across multiple disciplines, including surgery, radiology, pathology, and orthopedics. That’s what makes Mass General Brigham a destination for patients seeking high-quality, compassionate cancer care.

Q: What are some of the most challenging cases you tend to treat?

Dr. Choy: There are many types of sarcomas, and they don’t always respond to the first treatments that are tried. By the time some patients reach us, they’ve been told there are no options left.

Some of the most difficult cases I’ve treated have involved patients with late-stage connective tissue cancer (stage IV). These cancers have spread throughout the body (metastasized) and the prognosis is often very poor at that stage. The five-year survival rate can be as low as 15%. But even in the most advanced cases, we don’t give up. We explore a combination of treatments including drug therapy, surgery, and experimental treatments.

Research is constantly evolving, and we have access to new therapies that aren’t available elsewhere, such as:

• Cryoablation
• Pulsed electric field (PEF) therapy
• Proton radiation
• Minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures

Some of these procedures are only offered at a few elite cancer treatment centers around the world, like ours. Our phase 1 clinical trial treatments are only available at Mass General Brigham.

Q: What role does research play in your practice?

Dr. Choy: I lead clinical trials for connective tissue oncology at Mass General. We run studies at every stage, from phase 1 to phase 3, testing new drugs, treatment combinations, and novel therapies. Our goal is to have clinical trials available for all types of patients with advanced sarcomas, to give every patient, no matter their diagnosis or stage, access to the most promising new therapies.

Q: What advice would you give to someone considering treatment in another country?

Dr. Choy: Be prepared—not just medically, but emotionally. It’s hard to be away from home, especially when you’re vulnerable. Ask questions. Make sure you understand your options. And know that if you do choose to come here, you won’t be alone. We’ll help you through it, step by step.