Current Research Studies

MCC20320: Blood based biomarkers for minimal residual disease detection in pediatric sarcomas

MCC20320

  • Condition(s): Soft Tissue
  • Phase: N/A
  • Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NA

What is the goal of the study?

Over 30% of patients who present with localized high grade sarcomas such as Ewing sarcoma (ES), Osteosarcoma (OS) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) will develop recurrence and the majority of those will die from metastatic disease, while up to 80% of patients initially diagnosed with metastatic disease will die despite high-dose chemotherapy1-4. While initial chemotherapeutic responses to intensive chemotherapy, ie first strikes, are common, resistant cells are the cause of relapse. Metastatic recurrence after a radiographic remission is not uncommon, highlighting a major limitation of conventional therapy and disease assessment. In other words, the resistant cell population is below the sensitivity of radiologic examination. Currently we have no method to distinguish patients in complete radiographic response that are cured from those destined for relapse, leading to overtreatment of the former group and inadequate treatment of the latter. To address this pressing need, our group has been engaged in a potentially more sensitive method of disease assessment: developing new blood based biomarkers of minimal residual disease in sarcoma, such as the use of cell-free plasma tumor DNA (ptDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTC)5-7.

Who can participate in the study?

Please contact the study team listed below to learn more.

Study Team: