EUROSARC · European Clinical trials in Rare Sarcomas within an integrated translational trial network

Sarcomas are rare malignant tumors, with an overall incidence of 6/105/year. Bone and soft tissue connective tissue tumours encompass more than 50 different rare histotypes and more than 150 different molecular subtypes. The incidence of individual rare sarcomas subtypes is often less than 0.5/105/year. Given sarcoma rarity as a group, but even more as individual entities, few prospective clinical trials testing local or systemic treatments have been performed in specific subtypes of sarcomas. Clinical trials in specific histological and molecular subtypes of sarcoma can only be performed through integrated clinical networks, centres of clinical excellence, supported by translational analysis. The drive for EUROSARC comes from the fact that sarcomas should now receive treatment adapted to histological and molecular subtypes and are ideal models to develop rational oncogene-targeted therapies. Trials based on selected molecular subtypes should now represent the standard approach to delineate novel treatments in individual disease subsets. They are also potential proof of concepts for first-in-class targeted treatment. EUROSARC aims at validating 1) novel local and systemic treatment strategies in localized phase, and 2) innovative targeted therapies in advanced phase based on the scientific understanding of molecular alterations driving the tumours thereby developing paradigm changing clinical research. The consortium builds on the successful co-ordination of scientific excellence of Conticanet and EuroBoNeT FP6 NoEs, where most partners were involved. The objective will be achieved through the development and conduct of 9 (2“Soft tissues” + 7“Bones”, 9 phase I/II and III) investigator-driven clinical trials in rare histological and molecular subtypes of sarcoma, through the establishment of an integrated consortium, gathering representatives of most European sarcoma groups, SME, all with proven track records of scientific and clinical excellence.