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Roets E, Schuster K, Bickley S, Wartenberg M, Gonzato O, Fernandez N, Kasper B, Pilgermann K, Wilson R, Steeghs N, van der Graaf WTA, van Oortmerssen G, Husson O. Setting the international research agenda for sarcomas with patients and carers: results of phase II of the Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN) priority setting partnership. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:962. [PMID: 39107697 PMCID: PMC11301941 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12732-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Typically, researchers and clinicians determine the agenda in sarcoma research. However, patient involvement can have a meaningful impact on research. Therefore, the Patient-Powered Research Network (PPRN) of the Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN) set up a Priority Setting Partnership (PSP). The primary objective of this partnership is to identify priorities for research and patient advocacy topics. METHODS In the first phase of this PSP, including 264 sarcoma patients and carers from all over the world, 23 research topics regarding sarcomas and 15 patient advocacy topics were identified using an online survey. In the second phase, participants were asked to fill in a top five and a top three of research and patient advocacy topics, respectively. Additionally, sociodemographic characteristics and sarcoma characteristics were collected. Social media channels, local national patient advocacy groups and the SPAGN website were used to distribute the survey. RESULTS In total, 671 patients (75%) and carers (25%) participated in this survey. The five highest ranked research topics were related to causes of sarcoma (43%), prognosis and risk of recurrence (40%), specific subtypes of sarcoma (33%), the role of immunotherapy, targeted therapy and combined therapy (30%), and hereditary aspects (30%). The three highest ranked patient advocacy topics were improving the diagnostic process of sarcoma (39%), access to tumor DNA analysis (37%) and establishing an international sarcoma registry (37%). CONCLUSIONS This sarcoma PSP has identified priorities for research and patient advocacy, offering guidance for researchers, assisting funding agencies with assessing project relevance and empowering patient advocates to represent the needs of patients and carers.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Roets
- Medical Oncology Department, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K Schuster
- Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN), Untergasse 36, D-61200, Wölfersheim, Germany
| | - S Bickley
- Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN), Untergasse 36, D-61200, Wölfersheim, Germany
- Policy and Support, Sarcoma UK, 17/18 Angel Gate City Road, London, UK
| | - M Wartenberg
- Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN), Untergasse 36, D-61200, Wölfersheim, Germany
- German Sarcoma Foundation, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - O Gonzato
- Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN), Untergasse 36, D-61200, Wölfersheim, Germany
- Fondazione Paola Gonzato-Rete Sarcoma ETS, Rome, Italy
| | - N Fernandez
- Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN), Untergasse 36, D-61200, Wölfersheim, Germany
| | - B Kasper
- Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN), Untergasse 36, D-61200, Wölfersheim, Germany
- German Sarcoma Foundation, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
- Sarcoma Unit, Mannheim University Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - K Pilgermann
- Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN), Untergasse 36, D-61200, Wölfersheim, Germany
| | - R Wilson
- Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN), Untergasse 36, D-61200, Wölfersheim, Germany
- Sarcoma UK, 17/18 Angel Gate City Road, London, UK
| | - N Steeghs
- Medical Oncology Department, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W T A van der Graaf
- Medical Oncology Department, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Medical Oncology Department, Erasmus Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - G van Oortmerssen
- Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN), Untergasse 36, D-61200, Wölfersheim, Germany
| | - O Husson
- Medical Oncology Department, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Medical Oncology Department, Erasmus Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Surgical Oncology Department, Erasmus Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Resag A, Toffanin G, Benešová I, Müller L, Potkrajcic V, Ozaniak A, Lischke R, Bartunkova J, Rosato A, Jöhrens K, Eckert F, Strizova Z, Schmitz M. The Immune Contexture of Liposarcoma and Its Clinical Implications. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194578. [PMID: 36230502 PMCID: PMC9559230 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Liposarcomas (LPS) are the most frequent malignancies in the soft tissue sarcoma family and consist of five distinctive histological subtypes, termed well-differentiated LPS, dedifferentiated LPS (DDLPS), myxoid LPS (MLPS), pleomorphic LPS, and myxoid pleomorphic LPS. They display variations in genetic alterations, clinical behavior, and prognostic course. While accumulating evidence implicates a crucial role of the tumor immune contexture in shaping the response to anticancer treatments, the immunological landscape of LPS is highly variable across different subtypes. Thus, DDLPS is characterized by a higher abundance of infiltrating T cells, yet the opposite was reported for MLPS. Interestingly, a recent study indicated that the frequency of pre-existing T cells in soft tissue sarcomas has a predictive value for immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapy. Additionally, B cells and tertiary lymphoid structures were identified as potential biomarkers for the clinical outcome of LPS patients and response to CPI therapy. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that macrophages, predominantly of M2 polarization, are frequently associated with poor prognosis. An improved understanding of the complex LPS immune contexture enables the design and refinement of novel immunotherapeutic approaches. Here, we summarize recent studies focusing on the clinicopathological, genetic, and immunological determinants of LPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Resag
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Giulia Toffanin
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Iva Benešová
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Department of Immunology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, V Úvalu 84, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Luise Müller
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Vlatko Potkrajcic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Andrej Ozaniak
- Third Department of Surgery, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, V Úvalu 84, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Lischke
- Third Department of Surgery, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, V Úvalu 84, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jirina Bartunkova
- Department of Immunology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, V Úvalu 84, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Antonio Rosato
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Korinna Jöhrens
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Franziska Eckert
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Zuzana Strizova
- Department of Immunology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, V Úvalu 84, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (Z.S.); (M.S.); Tel.: +420-604712471 (Z.S.); +49-351-458-6501 (M.S.)
| | - Marc Schmitz
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Correspondence: (Z.S.); (M.S.); Tel.: +420-604712471 (Z.S.); +49-351-458-6501 (M.S.)
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