The Leiomyosarcoma Research Roundtable

On September 14, 2019, 35 sarcoma experts and researchers assembled at the Sylvester Cancer Center in Miami, Florida, to discuss the current status of treatment and care in leiomyosarcomas (LMS) as well as brainstorm about possible ways to approach LMS in the future.

The roundtable was initiated by the US patient advocacy group “National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation” led by Annie Achee and Dr. Mitch Achee, and supported by Sarcoma Patients EuroNet (SPAEN).

The day started with a review on what has been tested in LMS and most recent learnings and failures to pave the way to discussion on how to approach LMS in the future: How should LMS be grouped to make research meaningful, how can methodology be harmonized to enable collaboration across different research groups in the US and Europe? What’s new in LMS genomics, what can we do with and learn from mouse models? Can biomarkers be used in LMS? What’s the status of TKI and immunotherapy in LMS, what can we learn from current findings in LMS tumor metabolism?

Dr. Brian Van Tine, St. Louis, developed a comprehensive and thought-through agenda, Dr. Scott Okuno, Rochester, Minnesota, lead through the day, together with Dr. Jonathan Trent as host of the event.

It was agreed to continue this initiative in the following year and to bundle efforts to study and advance findings especially in the field of low-grade uterine LMS (STUMP Uterine smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential) and PDX models.

Dr. Breelyn Wilky, Denver, Colorado, will take the lead in developing the scientific program for the meeting in 2020.

We’d like to thank all participants for taking the time to join this important meeting, and for their commitment and dedication to improving the lives of LMS patients.