Sarcoma Oncology Research – An introduction
Sarcomas are a diverse and rare group of malignant tumours arising from mesenchymal tissues, including bone, muscle, fat, and connective tissue. Despite accounting for a small fraction of adult cancers, sarcomas represent a significant clinical challenge due to their biological heterogeneity, diagnostic complexity, and limited treatment options.
Date: 27 June 2025 | Author: Crista Casey
The Sarcoma Landscape
Sarcomas encompass more than 70 histological subtypes, broadly categorised into soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and bone sarcomas. As of 2024, key epidemiological insights include:
- Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Approximately 50,000 new cases diagnosed annually worldwide, representing about 1% of all adult malignancies.
- Bone Sarcomas: Less common, with osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma primarily affecting children and young adults.
- Rare Subtypes: Include synovial sarcoma, liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and angiosarcoma, each with distinct molecular drivers and clinical behaviours.
The rarity and heterogeneity of sarcomas present unique challenges in timely diagnosis, optimal treatment selection, and robust clinical trial enrolment.
Treatment Innovations
Treatment strategies for sarcomas have evolved significantly in recent years, integrating multimodal approaches and molecularly targeted strategies.
| Diagnosis | Treatment |
| Genomic Profiling Liquid Biopsies | Surgery Radiation Therapy Chemotherapy Targeted Therapies Immunotherapies Emerging modalities e.g., adoptive T-Cell |
These advances signify a transformative era, offering more precise and individualized treatment pathways for patients with sarcoma.
Challenges Still to Overcome for Sarcoma Patients
Despite progress, sarcoma patients continue to face considerable barriers. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts across policy, advocacy, and scientific communities to improve awareness, access, and participation in research.
- Delayed Diagnosis: Non-specific symptoms and low disease awareness often lead to advanced-stage presentation.
- Limited Access to Expertise: Sarcoma care frequently requires referral to specialized centres with multidisciplinary teams.
- Small Patient Populations: The rarity of each subtype complicates clinical trial feasibility and slows evidence generation.
- Disparities in Care: Socioeconomic, racial, and geographic factors impact timely diagnosis and access to advanced therapies.
- Underrepresentation in Research: Minority populations and patients from low-resource settings remain underrepresented in sarcoma trials.
- Variability in Biomarker Testing: Access to comprehensive genomic profiling varies widely across healthcare systems.
Sarcoma Market Interest
While sarcoma represents a small share of the overall oncology market, innovation is accelerating:
- The global sarcoma treatment market is projected to grow significantly as new targeted agents and immunotherapies gain approval.
- Cell and gene therapies, including TCR-engineered T cells targeting NY-ESO-1 and other sarcoma antigens, are advancing in clinical development.
- Precision oncology approaches, such as NTRK inhibitors for NTRK fusion–positive sarcomas, illustrate the growing impact of molecularly targeted treatments.
This evolution underscores a clear shift toward personalized immuno-oncology strategies in rare tumour types.
| Overall Sarcoma Market Size | Clinical Trial Activity | Key Drivers of Market Interest |
| CAGR of ~6–7%, reaching ~USD 1.9–2.2 billion by 2030. This growth is driven by: o Increased diagnosis o Rising adoption of targeted therapies. o Ongoing development of novel immunotherapies. | > 650 active interventional trials targeting sarcoma as of early 2025. ~45% of these studies are phase I or I/II, reflecting strong biotech and academic sponsor activity. | Targeted Therapies Immuno-Oncology Precision Oncology Orphan Drug Incentives Venture and M&A Activity |
Outlook
While sarcoma remains a niche segment in oncology relative to lung or breast cancer, it is an area of outsized innovation, with High scientific interest in translating immuno-oncology and T-cell therapies, policy support for rare disease R&D and growing investment in global trials focused on histology-defined and molecularly defined patient subgroups.
About Aixial Group
Since 1999, Aixial has conducted over 1,600 studies worldwide, including numerous complex trials in rare cancers such as sarcomas. Our global team of 1,000+ professionals—including oncology physicians, data scientists, and operational leaders—brings unmatched experience in designing and executing sarcoma trials across phases I–IV.
Aixial’s Differentiators
- Global Site and Investigator Networks experienced in rare tumour enrolment.
- Rapid Start-Up Capabilities, even in multi-country studies with stringent eligibility criteria.
- Customized Patient Recruitment strategies tailored for low-incidence populations.
- Best-in-Class eClinical Platforms for efficient data capture and monitoring.
- Advanced Data Integration and Analytics to enable adaptive trial designs.
- Partnerships with Specialty Labs for molecular diagnostics and biomarker testing.
- Decentralized and Hybrid Trial Models to improve participation and retention in rare disease studies.
Our Commitment
As the sarcoma research landscape evolves, Aixial remains committed to:
- Investing in AI/ML tools to identify eligible patients.
- Expanding decentralised capabilities to reach underserved populations.
- Fostering collaborative partnerships with sponsors, advocacy groups, and academic centres.
With deep therapeutic expertise, operational excellence, and an unwavering focus on patient needs, Aixial is uniquely positioned to accelerate the next generation of sarcoma breakthroughs.
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