Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Sarcoma

Olaratumab — really a breakthrough for soft-tissue sarcomas?

In a recent study, the addition of olaratumab to doxorubicin chemotherapy for patients with soft-tissue sarcoma resulted in prolongation of progression-free survival by only 2.5 months, but an overall survival benefit of 11.8 months; the large disparity between these outcomes raises important questions. We discuss these results in relation to those of other trials, and the implications for sarcoma therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Maki, R. G. et al. Key issues in the clinical management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors: an expert discussion. Oncologist 20, 823–830 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Tap, W. D. et al. Olaratumab and doxorubicin versus doxorubicin alone for treatment of soft-tissue sarcoma: an open-label phase 1b and randomised phase 2 trial. Lancet http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30587-6 (2016).

  3. Schoffski, P. et al. Eribulin versus dacarbazine in previously treated patients with advanced liposarcoma or leiomyosarcoma: a randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trial. Lancet 387, 1629–1637 (2016).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Judson, I. et al. Doxorubicin alone versus intensified doxorubicin plus ifosfamide for first-line treatment of advanced or metastatic soft-tissue sarcoma: a randomised controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 15, 415–423 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. van der Graaf, W. T. et al. Pazopanib for metastatic soft-tissue sarcoma (PALETTE): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet 379, 1879–1886 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. [No authors listed.] ZIOPHARM terminates development of palifosfamide in metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. ZIOPHARM Oncology http://ir.ziopharm.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=750983 (2013).

  7. [No authors listed.] Threshold pharmaceuticals announces its two phase 3 studies evaluating evofosfamide did not meet primary endpoints. Threshold Pharmaceuticals http://investor.thresholdpharm.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=945765 (2015).

  8. Fletcher, C. D., Hogendoorn, P., Mertens, F. & Bridge, J. WHO Classification of Tumours of Soft Tissue and Bone 4th edn (IARC Press, 2013).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Guo, X. et al. Clinically relevant molecular subtypes in leiomyosarcoma. Clin. Cancer Res. 21, 3501–3511 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hodi, F. S. et al. Improved survival with ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma. N. Engl. J. Med. 363, 711–723 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ian Judson.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

I.J. has received an honorarium from Eli Lilly for attendance at an advisory board meeting; however, the views expressed in this article are his own. I.J. has also received honoraria from Amgen, Ariad, Bayer, Clinigen, GSK, Nektar, and PharmaMar. W.T.v.d.G. has received a speakers' fee from Eli Lilly for an educational presentation on sarcoma, and has received research grants from GSK and Novartis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Judson, I., van der Graaf, W. Olaratumab — really a breakthrough for soft-tissue sarcomas?. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 13, 534–536 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.123

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.123

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Cancer

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Cancer newsletter — what matters in cancer research, free to your inbox weekly.

Get what matters in cancer research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Cancer