The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) (Belgium)

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) is Europe’s leading multidisciplinary clinical cancer research organisation whose work spans cancers, treatment types and national borders. For more than 60 years, its mission has been to coordinate and conduct international translational and clinical research to improve the standard of cancer treatment for patients, improving their survival and quality of life. 

EORTC is the coordinator of the STREXIT2 research project and the legal sponsor of the associated clinical trial. The study will be supported by EORTC infrastructure and network. Patient representatives will contribute to the clinical trial since study conceptualisation.

Syreon Research Institute is an independent research institute, providing expert services since 2008 in the fields of evidence synthesis, health economics, health policy, health technology assessment (HTA) and public health. It aims to apply scientific evidence and health economic knowledge in practice to maximise health gain for the society.

As part of STREXIT2, Syreon will conduct economic evaluations in different countries and will develop and coordinate a communication and dissemination strategy for the three projects. The results generated, if positive, should inform guideline developers, policymakers, and healthcare payers about the importance of giving access to investigational technologies for different types of cancers. Our team will also develop educational materials about key project methods and achievements.

Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN) is the global network of national Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Organizations. Today, approx. 60 member groups from 5 continents gather under the umbrella of SPAGN, providing a common, international and influential patient voice for sarcoma patients around the globe. SPAGN is working to improve the treatment and care of sarcoma patients through information and support, and by increasing the visibility of sarcoma with policymakers and the public.

SPAGN will bring in the patients’ perspective into the STREXIT2 programme as well as provide information relevant and specific for sarcoma patients and patient advocates.

Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori (INT) is a comprehensive cancer center certified by the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (EOCI) and a lead member of the European Reference Network for Rare Cancers (EURACAN-ERN). It aims to deliver the best evidence-based care for cancer patients as well as to foster clinical and translational research in the field of oncology.

INT is involved in the STREXIT2 project through the Sarcoma Service, an internationally recognized structure for the care of patients suffering from retroperitoneal sarcoma. INT will coordinate the recruitment of eligible patients for the STREXIT2 study by referencing the network of centres participating in the project. INT will also be involved in educational initiatives focused on improving the referral of retroperitoneal sarcoma in experienced centres and training international healthcare professionals in the treatment of this disease.

Dr. Alessandro Gronchi from the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori is the study’s Principal Investigator and Co-Leader. 

Dr. Marco Fiore from the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori is the study’s Co-Investigator. 

The Netherlands Cancer Institute, founded in 1913, is among the top 10 comprehensive cancer centers, combining world-class fundamental, translational, and clinical research with dedicated patient care. Our initiatives to promote excellent translational research have been recognized by the European Academy of Cancer Sciences, when they designated us ‘Comprehensive Cancer Center of Excellence in Translational Research’.

The Netherlands Cancer Institute will coordinate the recruitment of eligible patients for the STREXIT2 study by referencing the network of centers participating to the project. NCI will also be involved in educational initiatives focused to improve referral of retroperitoneal sarcoma in experienced centers and in training of international healthcare professionals in the treatment of this disease. They are also involved in clinical study results interpretation, combined costs effectiveness and clinical study interpretation.

Dr. Winan van Houdt from the Netherlands Cancer Institute is the study’s Principal Investigator and Co-Leader.