New research carried out by the University of Manchester has identified high doses of ifosfamide as the most effective treatment option for Ewing sarcoma patients with refractory or relapsed disease.
The study, which compared different chemotherapy options that are currently offered to recurrent and primary refractory Ewing patients, is the first of its kind to determine which treatment type is most effective or least toxic.
Result from the research showed that, when comparing ifosfamide with topotecan plus cyclophosphamide, the length of time patients remained free of progression or second malignancies after study registration was 5.7 months for ifosfamide, compared to 3.7 months for topotecan plus cyclophosphamide.
A greater survival rate was observed for patients under 14 when treated with ifosfamide and quality-of-life ranking also favoured ifosfamide use in children, but not in adults.
Zoe Davison, Head of Research, Information & Support at the Bone Cancer Research Trust, said:
We would like to congratulate Dr Martin McCabe at the University of Manchester's Division of Cancer Sciences for this breakthrough finding, which will provide positive news and fresh hope for Ewing sarcoma patients. This work would not have been possible without the rEEcur trial, which provided crucial data to make comparisons between the four main chemotherapy types. The EURO EWING Consortium (EEC) has supported the rEEcur trial and we are proud to co-fund the EEC with the Ewing's Sarcoma Research Trust as part of our patient-focused, collaborative approach to finding more effective and kinder treatment options for Ewing sarcoma patients.
The research findings were presented by Dr McCabe at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, USA. To find out more about this latest development, visit:
For more information about our co-funding of the EURO EWING Consortium (EEC) which supported the rEEcur trial: