The rEECur international clinical trial, led by Professor Martin McCabe at the University of Manchester, is an ongoing study investigating the most effective treatment for Ewing sarcoma which has returned after treatment (recurrent) or has not responded to initial treatment (refractory).
A blood-based biomarker is an indicator which can be measured in the blood and used to predict the likely course a disease will take and patients’ survival. Whilst a number of potential biomarkers have been identified in Ewing sarcoma, with the potential to predict survival, these have mostly been tested in newly diagnosed patients, or in a mixed group of patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent Ewing sarcoma. It is therefore difficult to know whether these markers are able to predict survival specifically in cases where Ewing sarcoma has returned or did not respond to treatment.
At present, standard clinical information is used to predict survival, such as the time from initial diagnosis to recurrence, and where in the body the recurrence has occurred.
What are the aims of this research project?
Professor McCabe and team are now aiming to understand whether blood-based biomarkers are better than, worse than, or as accurate as these clinical factors in predicting survival, and whether they should be measured as part of routine practice.
To do so, this project will provide additional funding to the rEECur trial, supporting the collection and analysis of blood samples from recruited patients, with the aim of studying a series of possible biomarkers in recurrent and refractory Ewing sarcoma.
Another vital aspect of this research will be to determine whether blood-based biomarkers could be used to as early detectors of recurrent disease, capable of picking this up before it can be identified and measured using scans.
How could this project improve treatment options for Ewing sarcoma patients?
The results of this
research will help to guide the most accurate
approach to monitoring and
predicting the course a patient’s disease will take, allowing for a more
informed approach to the management of Ewing sarcoma. If blood-based biomarkers
are found to be equally or more accurate than clinical information alone, they
will be taken forwards for further investigation in future clinical trials.
Ultimately, this project could pave the way towards their routine monitoring throughout a patient’s journey through diagnosis, treatment and
follow-up, as part of standard care.
This is one of four pioneering projects funded as part of a groundbreaking £800,000 joint investment into Ewing sarcoma research, made possible thanks to a collaboration between the Bone Cancer Research Trust, CCLG - The Children and Young People's Cancer Association, the Ewing's Sarcoma Research Trust and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.
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