Sarcomas are a rare and diverse group of cancers that occur in the bone and soft tissues (e.g., muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves) and account for less than one percent of all pediatric cancer diagnoses. Because they are uncommon, high-risk pediatric sarcomas, including Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma are difficult to study, which, in turn, has led to a substantial knowledge gap. This knowledge gap includes a lack of progress in understanding the mechanisms behind the relapse and spread (metastasis) of these high-risk sarcomas and has resulted in a delay in translating research evidence into improved patient outcomes.

The national Sarcoma MetAstasis Research Taskforce (SMART) project aims to bring together experts in sarcoma pathology, biology, model systems, molecular technologies, and drug screening to identify biomarkers for preventing and treating relapse and metastasis in high-risk pediatric sarcomas.

By generating knowledge through rigorous discovery and validation processes, the project is likely to offer pre-clinical evidence for novel strategies in sarcoma care, paving the way for improved patient outcomes. This project is also a national collaboration that will facilitate the sharing of resources and expertise, which can be leveraged for the benefit of the Canadian scientific community.

Additionally, the systematic exploration of sarcoma biology will not only address current challenges in pediatric high-risk sarcomas but also establish a platform for accelerated scientific progress with implications extending beyond sarcomas.