
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”
This trial is looking at having chemotherapy before surgery for soft tissue sarcoma that has a high risk of coming back.
It is for people:
Cancer Research UK supports this trial.
Surgery is a main treatment for soft tissue sarcoma.
Doctors are looking for ways to improve treatment for people who have retroperitoneal sarcoma. In this trial researchers are looking at having chemotherapy before surgery. They aren’t sure how well this will work so they are doing this trial to find out more.
In this trial, some people have surgery as usual. And some people have chemotherapy followed by surgery.
The main aims of the trial are to find out:
The following bullet points are a summary of the entry conditions for this trial. Talk to your doctor or the trial team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
Who can take part
You may be able to join this trial if all of the following apply.
You:
Who can’t take part
You cannot join this trial if any of these apply.
Cancer related
You can’t take part if any of the following apply.
You:
Medical conditions
You can’t take part if any of the following apply.
You:
Other
You can’t take part if any of the following apply.
You:
This phase 3 trial is taking place worldwide. The team need to find 250 people to take part including 31 from the UK.
It is a randomised trial. You are put into a group by a computer. Neither you nor your doctor will be able to decide which group you are in.
There are 2 treatment groups. You have 1 of the following:
Surgery (standard treatment)
You have surgery within 4 weeks of joining the trial. The team will tell you about your operation and how long you stay in the hospital.
Chemotherapy followed by surgery
You have chemotherapy once every 3 weeks for 9 weeks. You have it as a drip into a vein. Each 3 week period is a .
You have a combination of doxorubicin and ifosfamide if you have liposarcoma. You have this every day for 3 days. It takes about 4 hours each time.
You have a combination of doxorubicin and dacarbazine if you have leiomyosarcoma. You have this treatment every day for 4 days. It takes 15 minutes each time.
You then have surgery about 3 to 6 weeks after chemotherapy.
Samples for research
The researchers collect samples of your cancer tissue when it was diagnosed and during your routine surgery. They also ask to take some extra blood samples. Where possible, you have these at the same time as your routine blood tests.
They plan to use the samples to:
Quality of life
The trial team ask you to fill out a questionnaire:
The questionnaire asks about side effects and how you’ve been feeling. This is called a quality of life study. It takes about 15 minutes to fill in each time.
You see the doctor and have tests before you can take part. These include:
You have treatment at the hospital. Your doctor will let you know if you have an overnight stay if you are in the chemotherapy group.
During chemotherapy you see the doctor regularly. This is for blood tests and to see how you are. You also have some more tests before surgery and after chemotherapy. They may repeat some of the tests you had done when you joined the trial.
After surgery everyone sees the doctor for a check up at:
Trial scans and follow up
After treatment starts, you have a CT or MRI scan about every:
You also have a check up with your doctor at these timepoints. These will be at the hospital or your doctor may phone you to see how you are getting on.
You stop having the trial scans and check ups if your sarcoma gets worse. Your doctor will then talk to you about other treatment options.
The trial team monitor you during treatment and afterwards. Contact your advice line or tell your doctor or nurse if any side effects are bad or not getting better.
Some common side effects of chemotherapy include:
Your doctor will talk to you about all the possible side effects of treatment. You’ll have a chance to ask them any questions you may have.
We have information about the following treatments and their side effects:
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Mr Dirk Strauss
Cancer Research UK
The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)
This is Cancer Research UK trial number CRUK/21/017.
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”