NCCN Publishes Pediatric Soft Tissue Sarcoma Guidelines

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has published new NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Pediatric Soft Tissue Sarcomas, focusing on rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). These guidelines, the 7th for pediatric cancer, expand NCCN's library to 91 topics, providing evidence-based, expert consensus-driven recommendations for cancer care. RMS is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in individuals under 20, accounting for nearly 5% of all childhood cancers. Experts like Stephen Skapek, MD, from Duke Cancer Institute, and Douglas Hawkins, MD, from Seattle Children s, highlighted the unique nature of pediatric cancers and the need for tailored, multi-faceted treatments. The guidelines incorporate genetic changes, clinical, and pathology features for diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment, aiming for a full cure with minimal side effects and zero recurrence. They are freely available on NCCN.org and were downloaded over 18.4 million times in 2025, with studies associating guideline-concordant care with better outcomes and lower costs.