Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

What Is a Sarcoma ‘Specialist Center’? Multidisciplinary Research Finds an Answer

Roger L Wilson
* ORCID logo ,
Denise Reinke
,
Gerard van Oortmerssen
ORCID logo ,
Ornella Gonzato
,
Gabriele Ott
,
Chandrajit P Raut
,
B Ashleigh Guadagnolo
,
Rick L.M. Haas
ORCID logo ,
Jonathan Trent
ORCID logo ,
Robin Jones
ORCID logo ,
Lauren Pretorius
,
Brandi Felser
,
Mandy Basson
,
Kathrin Schuster
,
Bernd Kasper
Version 1 : Received: 10 April 2024 / Approved: 10 April 2024 / Online: 11 April 2024 (12:59:06 CEST)

How to cite: Wilson, R.L.; Reinke, D.; van Oortmerssen, G.; Gonzato, O.; Ott, G.; Raut, C.P.; Guadagnolo, B.A.; Haas, R.L.; Trent, J.; Jones, R.; Pretorius, L.; Felser, B.; Basson, M.; Schuster, K.; Kasper, B. What Is a Sarcoma ‘Specialist Center’? Multidisciplinary Research Finds an Answer. Preprints 2024, 2024040754. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.0754.v1 Wilson, R.L.; Reinke, D.; van Oortmerssen, G.; Gonzato, O.; Ott, G.; Raut, C.P.; Guadagnolo, B.A.; Haas, R.L.; Trent, J.; Jones, R.; Pretorius, L.; Felser, B.; Basson, M.; Schuster, K.; Kasper, B. What Is a Sarcoma ‘Specialist Center’? Multidisciplinary Research Finds an Answer. Preprints 2024, 2024040754. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.0754.v1

Abstract

Management of sarcomas in specialist centers delivers significant benefits. In much of the world specialists are not available and development of expertise is identified as a major need. However the terms ‘specialist’ or ‘expert’ center are rarely defined. Our objective is to offer a definition for patient advocates and a tool for healthcare providers to underpin improving the care of people with sarcoma. SPAGN developed a discussion paper for a workshop at the SPAGN 2023 Conference, attended by 75 delegates. A presentation to the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) and further discussion led to this paper. Core Principles were identified that underlie specialist sarcoma care. The primary principle is the multi-disciplinary team discussing every patient, at first diagnosis and during treatment. Principles for optimal sarcoma management include accurate diagnosis followed by safe, high-quality treatment, with curative intent. These Principles are supplemented by Features describing areas of healthcare, professional involvement, and service provision and identifying further research and development needs. These allow for variations because of national or local policies and budgets. We propose the term ‘Sarcoma Intelligent Specialist Network’ to recognize expertise wherever it is found in the world. This provides a base for further discussion and local refinement.

Keywords

Sarcoma; specialist center; expert center; clinical expertise; patient advocacy; care pathways

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Oncology and Oncogenics

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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