WINTER 2022 NEWSLETTER

Ewing Sarcoma Treatment Study

For Children and Young Adults

About Ewing Sarcoma

Recurrent or refractory Ewing sarcoma is a type of bone and soft tissue cancer that either is still present after treatment (refractory) or goes away only for a limited time (recurrent). Current treatments for Ewing sarcoma include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Unfortunately, treatment options for people with recurrent or refractory Ewing sarcoma are limited and may not provide adequate improvement. Medical teams are working to improve the treatment options for people with recurrent or refractory Ewing sarcoma.

The Ewing Sarcoma Treatment Study for Children and Young Adults

The Pfizer A5481092 Study is a Phase 2 investigational research study comparing the effectiveness of the study medicine palbociclib when taken in combination with chemotherapy medicines irinotecan (IRN) and temozolomide (TMZ) versus IRN and TMZ chemotherapy alone for the treatment of Ewing sarcoma. Palbociclib (IBRANCE®) is currently approved for the treatment of breast cancer in adults. About 75 children, adolescents, and young adults will be enrolled. The study will be available at more than 100 different study sites in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Who Can Participate

This study may be an option for children and young adults who:

- Are 2 to 20 years old

- Have been diagnosed with recurrent or refractory Ewing sarcoma

- Have not received prior treatment with a CDK4/6 inhibitor

There are other requirements to join this clinical study. A study team member will help determine if this study is right for you and your family based on all participation criteria

What to Expect

If you decide to participate in this study, you or your child will be randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive the study medicine palbociclib in combination with IRN and TMZ, or IRN and TMZ alone. This means that all participants will receive chemotherapy, and participants are twice as likely to receive palbociclib than not. Participants will not be able to choose, but they will know what they have been assigned to receive.

The study medicines are taken in 21-day treatment cycles. The number of treatment cycles completed will vary for each person depending on how they respond to the treatment. Participants may continue study treatment for as long as it is of benefit to them.

You or your child will need to attend regular visits at the study site for study treatment administration. These visits may include health assessments, questionnaires, blood samples, ECGs, CT/MRI scans to monitor how you or your child responds to treatment, and in younger patients, DEXA scans (X-rays that measure bone density). All study activities, including study assessments, procedures, and treatments that are not part of your or your child’s regular medical care will be provided at no cost to you.

To learn more or connect with a member of the study team, please click the button below or call 800-887-7002. If you are a physician interested in referring a patient, please call 833-751-4343.

Sarcoma News Corner

Researchers found that the two types of bone sarcoma most common in children and adolescents, Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma, have different types of immune characteristics. This research could lead to effective immunotherapies for each sarcoma. https://aacrjournals.org/clincancerres/article-abstract/28/22/4968/710457/Ewing-Sarcoma-and-Osteosarcoma-Have-Distinct

Two-time survivor of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, Nicole Brody, discusses the joys and challenges of having a new baby and then being treated for a recurrence. Thank you, Nicole, for sharing your story! https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/sarcoma-relapse-survivor--md-anderson-gave-me-a-second-chance-to-savor-new-motherhood.h00-159545268.html

Exciting news for alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS)! The FDA has approved an immunotherapy, atezolizumab, for patients age 2 or older who have unresectable or metastatic ASPS. https://www.onclive.com/view/fda-approves-atezolizumab-for-alveolar-soft-part-sarcoma

Dogs are more likely than people to get sarcomas, and research on them can help people, too. This article describes Sandy, a dog with osteosarcoma, who was in an immunotherapy trial of Listeria that resulted in long-term survival. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dogs-comparative-oncology-60-minutes-2022-11-27/

Results of an early phase clinical trial of camsirubicin for soft tissue sarcomas showed that half of patients had stable disease. This drug is similar to doxorubicin but has been designed to not create heart problems. Encouraging news! https://www.onclive.com/view/camsirubicin-elicits-early-clinical-activity-in-advanced-soft-tissue-sarcoma

An international consortium lead by University of Michigan researchers has won a large grant from the National Cancer Institute to study leiomyosarcoma. The study will focus on identifying genetic targets, study risks in patients with cancer predisposition syndromes, and find genetic markers that quickly indicate whether new treatments are working. https://www.newswise.com/articles/u-m-to-lead-multi-site-12m-grant-to-study-rare-type-of-sarcoma

A second opinion identified a blemish as an angiosarcoma, requiring much more intensive treatment than originally required. Thank you for sharing your story, Allison O'Neill, for raising awareness that second opinions from sarcoma experts can save lives! https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/valley-woman-has-deadly-blemish-removed-at-mayo-clinic

In intriguing therapy, INT230-6, which is injected directly into the tumor, combines two chemotherapies with an agent that disperses them into cells. A clinical trial showed effectiveness in metastatic sarcomas. https://www.targetedonc.com/view/intratumoral-injection-shows-antitumor-activity-and-safety-in-sarcoma

For daily news items, visit the Sarcoma Alliance Facebook news feed.

Meet Our New Brand Ambassador, Nicole!

We are so excited to announce Nicole Crutchfield as our newest Brand Ambassador! Nicole recently joined the Sarcoma Alliance team. In this role, Nicole will join our mission to raise awareness for sarcoma and advocate for sarcoma patients. She brings her personal experience with this cancer to help those coping with a sarcoma diagnosis. Nicole is an experienced special education teacher and has spent over 20 years in the field of education. In her spare time, she enjoys going to sporting events, walking, yoga, and attending musical theatre shows. Her favorite flowers are roses, tulips, and sunflowers. 

It's Never Too Late to Make a Difference

The end of the year is almost here, but you can still support the sarcoma community today. Your donation will strengthen critical programs and services for sarcoma patients, survivors, and their loved ones. To aid the thousands of people affected by sarcoma, help us by donating to ensure they receive the resources needed to navigate a sarcoma diagnosis. Give the gift that keeps on giving!

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