reference centers improve patient survival

A study published in the journal Annals of Oncology shows an improvement in the survival of patients with sarcoma nationally if they are followed in a reference center of the NETSARC network.

This study was conducted by Professor Jean-Yves Blay, general director of the Center Léon Bérard (CLB), medical oncologist global sarcoma specialist and coordinator of this network of 26 reference centers including the CLB. Its main objective is to improve the quality of diagnosis and management of patients with sarcomas.

Covering 43,975 patients suffering from sarcomas, GISTs or connective tissue tumors of intermediate malignancy, the study showed a significant improvement in compliance with clinical recommendations over the years (increase in biopsies, percentage of files presented in multidisciplinary consultation meetings before the first surgical intervention, complete resection of the tumor during the first intervention), improving patient survival.

These observations therefore argue in favor of the systematic referral of patients suffering from these rare pathologies to a dedicated reference center.