がん臨床試験ジャーナル

Rare Cancers and Clinical Trials Progress in the Face of Rarity

Abstract

Senapati Dulal

Cancer is a formidable adversary, affecting millions of lives worldwide. While common cancers like breast, lung and prostate cancers dominate the public health landscape, there exists a group of malignancies that are far less prevalent but equally devastating - rare cancers. These rare cancers pose unique challenges for both patients and healthcare providers. However, there is hope on the horizon, as clinical trials are making significant progress in the face of rarity, offering new possibilities for those affected by these less common but often aggressive diseases. Rare cancers, also known as orphan cancers, are those with a lower incidence compared to more prevalent malignancies. Although no universal consensus defines the threshold for rarity, the American Cancer Society suggests that cancers with an incidence of fewer than six cases per 100,000 people per year fall into this category. Some examples of rare cancers include cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), mesothelioma and sarcomas.