Sarcoma research programs at the University of Minnesota include both basic research (research conducted in a laboratory) and clinical research (clinical trials studying patients with sarcomas).

Not only is the goal of such research to find improved methods of treating cancer, but also to develop ways of detecting these tumors at earlier stages than are now available and to improve treatment by focusing on prevention.

Combining basic science and clinical research — for example, the study of how tumors actually destroy bone and the clinical study of how treatment affects the patient's quality of life — clearly present an opportunity to prevent pain and suffering for the patient.

The following are examples of ongoing sarcoma research at the University of Minnesota:

• Basic research on how cancer grows in bone
• Basic research on how bone cancer produces pain
• Clinical research on limb reconstruction after tumor removal
• Clinical research on factors affecting survival
• Clinical research on long term effects of treatment
• Clinical research on patient related quality of life during and after treatment
• Clinical research on optimizing the surgical excision of soft tissue sarcomas
• Development and participation in multi-institutional clinical trials for treatment and evaluation of bone and soft tissue sarcomas.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new interventions for patients. They are are already tested by laboratory research and show promise. Researchers conduct various kinds of clinical cancer trials, such as prevention trials, early detection trials and treatment trials. If you take part in a clinical trial, you may benefit from a new drug, procedure or symptom-control method while helping scientists evaluate its effectiveness.

The sarcoma care team at the University of Minnesota is actively engaged in both national and regional clinical trials for various cancers. Click on the links below to view current lists of clinical trials for the cancers or contact the sarcoma care team program coordinator at 612-273-7810.

• Clinical trials for adults
• Clinical trials for children (all trials for pediatric cancers are listed on this page).

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Content development for the Bone & Soft Tissue Cancers (Sarcomas) section was supported by the Karen Wyckoff Rein in Sarcoma Fund.