Precision medicine in Ewing sarcoma: a translational point of view

Clin Transl Oncol. 2020 Sep;22(9):1440-1454. doi: 10.1007/s12094-020-02298-7. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Abstract

Ewing sarcoma is a rare tumor that arises in bones of children and teenagers but, in 15% of the patients it is presented as a primary soft tissue tumor. Balanced reciprocal chimeric translocation t(11;22)(q24;q12), which encodes an oncogenic protein fusion (EWSR1/FLI1), is the most generalized and characteristic molecular event. Using conventional treatments, (chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy) long-term overall survival rate is 30% for patients with disseminated disease and 65-75% for patients with localized tumors. Urgent new effective drug development is a challenge. This review summarizes the preclinical and clinical investigational knowledge about prognostic and targetable biomarkers in Ewing sarcoma, finally suggesting a workflow for precision medicine committees.

Keywords: Actionable pathways; Epigenomic targets; Ewing sarcoma; Precision medicine; Preclinical investigation; Prognostic biomarkers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bone Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Genomics / methods
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • Precision Medicine / methods*
  • Prognosis
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / genetics
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / pathology
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / therapy

Substances

  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion