The Foster consortium 

Background

Improving survival, in terms of duration and quality, requires new therapies that control osteosarcoma tumor cells with metastatic potential and their favoring tumor microenvironment from diagnosis. Osteosarcoma complexity/heterogeneity in term of tumor cell genomic/epigenetic and biology, diversity of tumor ME, sparsity of appropriate preclinical models, and heterogeneity of therapeutic trials have rendered the task difficult. No European first line trial has been launched in over 15 years, and only a few at national level. In the relapse setting, few trials are available in Europe. The majority of European patients are not being offered access to new drugs or treatment strategies in Europe, despite an estimated 1135 new cases in the EU per year and a third experiencing relapse. Unlike other tumor groups, there is no common platform where clinicians and researchers in Europe can discuss, and no international biobanking, etc.

Presentation

The FOSTER consortium (Fight Osteosarcoma Through European Research) proposes to connect multidisciplinary and patient/parent advocate expertise, at a Pan-European level to improve biological, translational and clinical research on osteosarcoma, to ultimately improve survival.

With 296 members from across 19 countries, and 8 work packages from biology to late-effects, FOSTER consortium work is overseen by an Executive Committee, with the help of a project manager:

– to implement a strategic research plan agenda with regular meetings where knowledge sharing can be freely developed;

– to pursue the aim of gaining a comprehensive overview of current osteosarcoma biology knowledge and trial situation, and thus tackle the current gaps and remaining challenges in osteosarcoma.