title: The value of research collaborations and consortia in rare cancers.
abstract: Rare cancers are defined by an incidence of less than six per 100,000 people per year. They represent roughly 20% of all human cancers and are associated with worse survival than are so-called frequent tumours, because of delays to accurate diagnosis, inadequate treatments, and fewer opportunities to participate in clinical trials (because of a paucity of dedicated trials from both academic and industrial sponsors). In this Series paper, we discuss how these challenges can be addressed by research consortia and suggest the integration of these consortia with reference networks, which gather multidisciplinary expert centres, for management of rare tumours.
authors: Centre Léon Bérard Lyon and Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Lyon, France; Equipe 17 INSERM CRCL, LYRIC (INCA-DGOS 4664), NetSARC, RREPS, and EuroSARC (FP7-278742), Lyon, France; European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Lyon, France. Electronic address: jean-yves.blay@lyon.unicancer.fr.
authors: Jean-Yves
authors: JY
authors: Blay
authors: Institut Bergonie, Bordeaux, France.
authors: Jean-Michel
authors: JM
authors: Coindre
authors: Centre Léon Bérard Lyon and Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Lyon, France.
authors: Françoise
authors: F
authors: Ducimetière
authors: Centre Léon Bérard Lyon and Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Lyon, France.
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Ray-Coquard
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004345:Drug Industry; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical