Sarcoma and the contribution of clinical trials
What is sarcoma?
Sarcoma is a type of cancer that begins in the bones or soft tissues. Soft tissues include muscles, fat, nerves, tendons, and blood vessels. Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer, accounting for about 1% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States each year.
There are over 100 different subtypes of sarcoma, each with its own unique characteristics. Some of the most common subtypes of sarcoma include:
- Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
- Chondrosarcoma (bone cancer)
- Ewing sarcoma (bone cancer)
- Soft tissue sarcoma (cancer of the soft tissues)
- Leiomyosarcoma (cancer of the smooth muscles)
- Liposarcoma (cancer of the fat cells)
How are clinical trials contributing to the treatment of sarcoma?
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate new or experimental treatments and procedures. Clinical trials play a vital role in the development of new and improved treatments for sarcoma.
Over the past few decades, clinical trials have led to significant advances in the treatment of sarcoma. For example, clinical trials have shown that chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be effective in treating many types of sarcoma. Additionally, clinical trials have led to the development of new targeted therapies that can specifically target the molecular changes that drive sarcoma growth.
Some examples of clinical trials that have contributed to the treatment of sarcoma include:
- A clinical trial that showed that adding chemotherapy to surgery improved survival rates for patients with osteosarcoma.
- A clinical trial that showed that a drug called imatinib was effective in treating patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a type of soft tissue sarcoma.
- A clinical trial that showed that a drug called trabectedin was effective in treating patients with liposarcoma, a type of soft tissue sarcoma.
How can I find a clinical trial for sarcoma?
If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial for sarcoma, there are a number of ways to find one. You can talk to your doctor about clinical trials that may be right for you. You can also search for clinical trials on the website of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Why should I consider participating in a clinical trial for sarcoma?
Participating in a clinical trial is a way to help advance the treatment of sarcoma and to potentially receive access to new and innovative treatments. Additionally, clinical trials are closely monitored to ensure the safety of participants.
If you are considering participating in a clinical trial for sarcoma, it is important to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits involved.