New research funded by the Bone Cancer Research Trust will bring together experts from around the world to transform the treatment of adamantinoma.
Professor Judith Bovée, based at Leiden University in the Netherlands, has been awarded £100,000 to deliver pioneering studies into two key components of the tumours — bone and epithelium.
Together with multidisciplinary experts across the globe, Professor Bovée will use cutting-edge techniques on the largest collection of osteofibrous (OFD), OFD-like adamantinoma, and classic adamantinoma patient samples to date.
From this Professor Bovée looks to enhance diagnostic testing for adamantinoma, which will help to prevent undertreatment or overtreatment with life-changing surgery.
Ultimately, it is hoped the project will lead to greater diagnostic accuracy and better outcome prediction with the potential to guide treatment decisions.
Judith Bovée, Professor of Pathology at Leiden University, said:
I'm very excited about the Bone Cancer Research Trust grant funding provided for our team's research into adamantinoma. Small, dedicated charities such as this one are essential in facilitating vital research into these ultrarare cancers.
Dr Zoe Davison, Head of Research, Information and Support at the Bone Cancer Research Trust, said:
We are so proud to be funding Professor Bovée and her team to deliver pioneering research into adamantinoma and its potential relationship with OFD and OFD-like adamantinoma. As part of our ten-year strategy, we aim to fund research into all forms of primary bone cancer regardless of their rarity, in hope that we can improve diagnosis and treatments for all our patients #UntilTheresACure.
This research will formally begin in June 2024.
Aims of the project
At microscopic level, adamantinoma tumours contain bone and a type of tissue that covers our internal and external organs (epithelium).
In contrast to classic adamantinoma, OFD and OFD-like adamantinoma contain less epithelium and do not behave as cancerous tumours.
Differentiating between them is very difficult, and this project aims to better understand their differences by looking at the interactions between bone and epithelium.
By developing robust criteria that pathologists can use to differentiate between OFD, OFD-like adamantinoma and classic adamantinoma, outcome prediction and treatment planning for adamantinoma patients can be improved.
How could this project benefit adamantinoma patients?
In classic adamantinoma, surgery is the first line of treatment, and the disease can spread to other parts of the body (known as metastasis).
The discoveries from this project could help doctors make better decisions and tailor the appropriate treatment for each patient.
Moreover, if researchers can unravel the way in which the two key components (bone and epithelium) influence each other, this could be used to design new treatments for adamantinoma patients who cannot be operated on or develop metastasis.
Find out more about this exciting research below: