Metastatic sarcoma presents a formidable challenge in the realm of cancer treatment. The sheer diversity of sarcoma subtypes and the necessity of tailoring treatments to each specific histology makes the quest for effective therapies all the more complex. In this article, we delve deeper into the current landscape of advancements and challenges in the treatment of metastatic sarcoma, guided by the insights of Professor Stacchiotti.
Q1: Good morning, Professor Stacchiotti. Thank you for taking this interview. And our first question is about based on your extensive research and practical experience in the field of sarcoma, could you provide insights into the current advancements and challenges in treating patients with metastatic sarcoma?
A: Thank you for the question. I think that the first thing that we need to have always in mind is that sarcoma is not a single disease, it is a family of tumors. So when it comes to defining which are the progress in treating metastatic sarcoma, we should consider each single histology separately.
So today we had the presentation of a very interesting data about the combination of doxorubicin and trabecutin, for example, and it was clear that it can provide benefit, but probably not at the same level in all different histologies, liomyosarcoma being probably the most interesting one, and the same is, for example, for olorathum, olaparib and trabecutin.
While on the other side we have new data coming out on MDM2 inhibitors in well -dived defliposarcoma, or last year we had very interesting data on gamma secretase inhibitor in desmoid fibromatosis. So we need to stay tuned and to look at each single histology to understand what is new in the field.
Q2: Okay, the second question. You participated in the discussion of the topic ‘When can we cure patients with metastatic sarcoma’. What are the key factors, in your opinion, that determine the success of curing metastatic sarcoma?
A: Even though we still lack prospective data, I think that the key factor is patient selection and based on the retrospective data that we have so far, these are key factors. elements to select patients are basically again histology.
The interval between the primary tumor and the metastatic relapse, that should be not short. The progression rate of the tumor, the response to a prior chemotherapeutic treatment and especially the potentiality for rejecting or treating all the metastatic lesion and the number and size of the lesion.
So for now these are the elements that we need to consider when we want to select a patient with oligometastatic sarcoma for a local, local regional treatment. But of course a lot needs to be done and prospective studies are really needed to better understand how to select the right patient for this kind of approach.
Q3: So our last question, Could you share some of the promising results or breakthroughs from your recent research that could potentially lead us closer to treating metastatic sarcoma?
A: More than curing, unfortunately, is still very far away.
We have new interesting approaches for selected histologies and these consist in immunotherapy for histotypes like alveolar sopar sarcoma or angiosarcoma. For example, T -cell therapy for histologies like synoviasarcoma and mixolypo sarcoma and gamma secretase inhibitor for Desmoitumor, as we said before.
We really hope for MDM2 inhibitors for liposarcoma. And of course, yesterday and today we talk a lot of combination approaches. In some indication they look promising so again stay in tune and look at the experimental, the trials that are available for patients.
