Cross-border tumor boards of cancer specialists from different European countries meeting virtually to review the management of individual patients with complex rare gynecological cancers from across Europe resulted in new treatment recommendations and increased access to clinical trials, according to results from a six-year study that will be presented at the ESMO Gynaecological Cancers Congress 2024. Gynecological cancers occur in the female reproductive system and include cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, vulval cancers and gestational trophoblastic tumors. More than half of all gynecological cancers are classified as 'rare cancers', defined as cancers that are diagnosed in fewer than 6 people in every 100,000 of the population each year.
The low numbers mean that many cancer centers, even those at regional and national level, have limited experience in diagnosing and managing patients and little or no access to clinical trials. This can lead to delayed diagnosis and limited availability of treatment options for patients. Five-year survival rates are lower for patients with rare cancers (47%) compared to those with common cancers (67%).
Treating rare gynecological cancers poses several challenges in terms of lack of consensus on management or shared guidelines and poor availability of clinical trials. There are challenges and major differences also in terms of achieving accurate and timely diagnosis, accessing novel treatment options and providing harmonised care for pa.
