Targeted therapies gain traction in osteosarcoma trials, but challenges persist

Despite an increase in the number of Phase 2 clinical trials for recurrent/refractory osteosarcoma between 2017 and 2022, there remains a significant level of heterogeneity in various aspects of trial design, according to a study.

This includes patient selection criteria, study design, primary endpoints, and statistical hypotheses.

Although there has been a shift towards evaluating targeted therapies, with some positive outcomes being observed, the overall efficacy data for these trials is still considered disappointing.

The study authors emphasize the need for ongoing refinement of trial design, informed by a deeper understanding of the biological factors at play, in order to advance the development of effective therapies for this challenging medical condition.

Reference
van Ewijk R, Cleirec M, Herold N, et al; FOSTER Consortium (Fight OsteoSarcoma Through European Research), work package 3 on recurrent/refractory osteosarcoma trials. A systematic review of recent phase-II trials in refractory or recurrent osteosarcoma: Can we inform future trial design? Cancer Treat Rev. 2023;120:102625. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102625. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37738712.