Dr. Kasper on Future Treatment Approaches in Sarcoma

Bernd Kasper, MD, PhD, professor, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, discusses future treatment approaches in the field of sarcoma and the potential role of imatinib (Gleevac).

There are interesting data looking at Notch inhibition with a gamma secretase inhibitor in a small, phase II study of 17 patients, which demonstrated an overall response rate of 29%. Hopefully, this will lead to a larger study, Kasper adds, that could show that this could be an effective treatment option for patients.

Moreover, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as imatinib could also hold promise in patients with desmoid tumors, specifically in those who have progressive disease. However, this needs to be built into a strategy and used appropriately on an individualized basis, Kasper explains.