Sarcomas are rare cancers arising from bone, muscle, fat, blood vessels, or other connective tissues. They account for about 1% of adult cancers and 15% of childhood cancers. Treatment typically involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, though outcomes vary widely by subtype and stage.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing targeted drugs matched to specific genetic mutations, immunotherapies including checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapies, and new chemotherapy combinations. Researchers are also studying radioligand therapy for certain subtypes and oncolytic viruses that infect and kill sarcoma cells while sparing normal tissue.
Targeted therapies
Drugs targeting mutations like TRK fusions, NTRK alterations, and specific gene amplifications are showing activity in sarcomas that harbor those changes. Larotrectinib and entrectinib gained FDA approval for TRK fusion-positive cancers including certain sarcomas.
Immunotherapy combinations
Checkpoint inhibitors showed limited single-agent activity in sarcoma, but trials are testing them combined with radiation, chemotherapy, or other immune drugs. Early results suggest some subtypes may respond better than others.
CAR T-cell therapy
Engineered T-cells targeting proteins like GD2 and HER2 are in trials for sarcomas expressing those markers. Synovial sarcoma trials are testing CAR T-cells against a protein called NY-ESO-1.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on sarcoma subtype, stage, prior treatments, specific mutations or biomarkers, and whether the tumor can be biopsied or has measurable disease on scans.
What types of trials are currently open
- Targeted therapy trials — Testing drugs matched to genetic mutations found in tumor samples. Often requires biopsy and molecular testing before enrollment.
- Immunotherapy trials — Testing checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cells, cancer vaccines, or combinations aimed at helping the immune system attack sarcoma cells.
- Chemotherapy trials — Testing new chemotherapy drugs or combinations, often for people whose sarcoma has grown despite standard treatment.
- Radiation trials — Testing new radiation techniques, radioligand therapies, or radiation combined with drugs to improve local control or treat metastases.
- Surgery trials — Studies comparing surgical approaches or testing drugs given before or after surgery to reduce recurrence risk.
Recently added Sarcoma trials
Molecular and Clinical Studies of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors
The goal of this observational study is to learn whether tumors of bone and soft tissue can be sorted into groups by their genes. Today these tumors are named mainly by how they look under a microscope. There are more than 150 names in use. The same tumor can be given different names by different doctors. The study includes people of any age with a bone or soft tissue tumor. All of them had tissue sampled at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can tests of a tumor's genes sort these tumors into clearer groups than the names used today? How often does a tumor's gene group differ from the name it was given at diagnosis? Can a computer program tell these groups apart from scanned pictures of the tissue? Researchers will compare the groups found by the gene tests with the diagnoses given at the time. They will also look at how each group did over the years that followed. This shows which way of sorting tumors better matches what happened to participants. Participants will not have extra visits, tests, or treatment for this study. The study does not change anyone's care. Researchers will: Use tumor tissue that was already taken as part of regular care Read the DNA and RNA in the tumor, which carry its genetic instructions Read the chemical marks on the tumor's DNA that switch genes on and off Scan the glass slides of the tissue into digital pictures Collect facts about treatment and health from medical records Participants who are newly diagnosed will also be asked for a blood sample. Blood shows which gene changes a person was born with and which ones started in the tumor. If the study finds a gene change that matters for a participant's care, the study team tells the treating doctors through normal hospital routines.
Complete diagnostic tests for lymphoma and Castleman disease
Persons living with HIV (PLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), lymphadenopathy often portends one of a number of life-threatening diseases including tuberculosis, lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman disease (MCD). Overcoming these delays and missed diagnoses requires new approaches to identify lymphoma and MCD.
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