CTOS is an annual meeting that brings together physicians and healthcare professionals, who specialize in sarcomas, from around the world, to discuss new developments, treatments and advancements in the field. This November, we had the privilege of attending the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) conference, an annual event that brings together sarcoma-focused medical professionals, advocates, pharmaceutical companies, and researchers to share the latest advancements and discoveries.
Representing The Life Raft Group and our new Liposarcoma Support Network (LSN) was Denisse Evans (Senior Director of Data Management & Research), Christina Wang (Director, Liposarcoma Support Network), and Dr. Sydney Stern (Director, Giant Cell Tumor Programs). The response to our expansion into liposarcoma advocacy was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the critical unmet need for this effort. We’re excited to share a few highlights from the conference below.
- Understanding Tumor Diversity
Not all liposarcoma tumors are alike and even areas within the same tumor may look very different. Researchers found that certain immune structures in low-grade areas (known as areas that are less aggressive) of tumors could improve responses to immune-based therapies, while high-grade areas (known as areas that are very aggressive) may resist these treatments. This highlights the importance of personalized care that considers the differences among areas of the tumor. - Better Surgical Outcomes Studies
This session emphasized that surgeries performed at high-volume sarcoma centers lead to better outcomes for patients. These centers are equipped with the expertise and resources needed for complex cases like retroperitoneal liposarcoma. Due to being high trafficked, these centers also tend to have more options like clinical trials. - Advancements in Drug Development
Promising clinical trials explored innovative drug combinations showing potential to improve tumor responses and duration of response time. While some trials face challenges with showing meaningful changes in patients survival, they lay the groundwork for future advancements and advocacy.- Brigimadlin (Brightline-1 Trial): This investigational drug was tested as a firstline treatment for dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS). While it showed promising tumor shrinkage and stabilized disease in some patients, it did not outperform the current standard, doxorubicin, in preventing disease progression. Disease progression is often used as a measurement for overall survival (e.g., it’s assumed that if patients don’t progress in their disease, they will survive longer). Therefore, it’s unknown if this investigational drug would improve survival outcomes compared to doxorubicin. Advocacy can help ensure future trials and improve the design of the trial (e.g., if the trial was intended for patients who already received doxorubicin previously and needed a new option, it may work better in that population).
- Combination Therapies
Trials combining MDM2 and CDK4/6 inhibitors demonstrated encouraging results for patients with advanced well-differentiated and dedifferentiated liposarcoma (WD/DD LPS). These therapies may offer new hope in targeting specific genetic pathways linked to liposarcoma.
These findings emphasize the importance of patient involvement in research and care. Be proactive—ask your doctor about emerging treatments, advocate for access to clinical trials, and stay connected with the Liposarcoma Support Network for updates, advocacy opportunities, and support. We’re committed to keeping you informed about these advancements and how they could shape future treatment options. Email us with any questions: support@liposarcomasupport.org with any questions.
For a deeper dive on CTOS updates, check out Christina’s takeaways: bit.ly/CTOS2024LipoSummary
