New partnership for rare cancers
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is launching a new partnership that will focus on education, research and epidemiology in the field of rare cancers. The multi-stakeholder partnership, which is led by ESMO but founded jointly with actors ranging from patient advocacy groups to research institutions and industry partners across the Asia-Pacific region is called Rare Cancers Asia (RCA) and is expected to build on the success of the existing Rare Cancers Europe (RCE) initiative.
The first project to run under the new partnership is the creation of a clinical-pathologic web sarcoma platform for sharing clinical cases between Asian sarcoma reference centres and the institutions that make up EURACAN's sarcoma domain. It will strive to harmonise diagnosis and clinical practices in this group of rare cancers, where strategic medical decisions at the beginning of the patient pathway are crucial to making a difference in patient outcomes.
Another two projects will be an epidemiological study to estimate the incidence of rare cancers and compare it across selected Asian countries, as well as between Asia and Europe, and an epidemiological and translational research project on nasopharyngeal cancer to study the striking epidemiological characteristics of this disease and improve treatment options for it based on tumour biology.
“Rare Cancers Asia aims to become the preferred platform for discussing and proposing solutions to the many challenges faced by rare cancer patients, physicians, researchers, industry and other stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Paolo G. Casali, Co-Founder of both ESMO-led rare cancers initiatives. “Designed to work in partnership with Rare Cancers Europe, RCA will build bridges between Asia and Europe, and be of help to both rare cancer patient communities. By furthering our global understanding of these diseases and allowing best practices to be shared more widely across both regions, Rare Cancers Asia will ultimately contribute to improving care for patients who urgently need it.”