FORTRESS

It makes absolutely no sense to draw conclusions on the perceived efficacy of novel agents in sarcoma based on expansion cohorts in Phase I/II trials with only 25 patients included and not selected for subtype and/or molecular alteration. doi.org/10.1158/2767-9…

Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor-associated protein (uPARAP) is highly expressed in a variety of sarcoma subtypes and a promising target for antibody/drug conjugates. See authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S19… and clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06797…

Successful and smooth FORTRESS 2026 in the Grand Beguinage at KU Leuven, Leuven (B). Mission accomplished!

Leuven hosted, we debated…The rest is confidential! Fortress 2026 – Mystery Edition ⁦@FORTRESSMEETING⁩ ⁦@schoffski⁩ ⁦@AgaWozniak1⁩

The 2026 edition of FORTRESS took off in the 800 year old „Infirmerie“ at KU Leuven‘s Grand Beguinage

Forum for Translational Research in Sarcomas (FORTRESS) returning to its birthplace Leuven (BE) this week! We are looking forward to welcoming 140 invited guests in our spectacular medieval environment, the Infirmerie, a care facility dating back almost 800 years

Suggestion from a former award winner: If you are affiliated to a university in EU or Switzerland & you work on tumours of the locomotor apparatus, apply for the Oswald Vander Veken Prize (25.000 Euro for personal use! Details: prix@frs-fnrs.be. Deadline 02-03-2026! Goodluck 🩺

FORTRESS and FORTIFY scientific program for the 2026 workshop in Leuven (BE) shared with our registered attendees today. kuleuven.be/fortress. We are fully booked!

Death receptor 5 agonist ozekibart (INBRX-109) doubles PFS in pts with advanced or metastatic, IDH-mutated or -wildtype chondrosarcoma when compared to placebo, and delays deterioration in pain and other PROs. Read INHIBRx press release and Subbiah et al. Clin Cancer Res 2023

I wish all spider plots from sarcoma trials would look like the one from the recent update of the DeFi trial leading to regulatory approval of nirogacestat in US and Europe for our patients with desmoid fibromatosis. doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25…

Yet another succesful PhD thesis from the Lab. of Exp. Oncology in Leuven: Chao-Chi (Ally) Wang presented her preclinical evaluation of novel antibody-drug conjugates targeting uPARAP/Endo180 in sarcoma xenografts, providing the rationale for the ongoing Phase 1 trial NCT06797999

Leuven (Belgium) selected to be the European Capital of Culture in 2030. Good choice - come and visit us!

FORTRESS 2026 in Leuven already now fully booked! We apologize to those who cannot join anymore - we try to keep the Workshop small and interactive, in the best interest of our guests

CTOS is launching a Young Investigators Group for the next generation of sarcomologists. Get involved!

Ascleipieon in Kos (Greece) - the birthplace of modern medicine, 200 years bc

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products has recommended granting marketing authorization for nirogacestat for the treatment of adults with progressing desmoid tumors. See also c.peerview.com/live/programs/…

Can hardly recall that I ever had 4 ongoing, actively recruiting, sarcoma-specific first in human Phase 1 trials at the same time. ADCs, bifunctional antibodies and novel kinase inhibitors - what a privilege, really can’t complain… Send your patients for these exclusive trials!

Sanofi acquired Blueprint Medicines Corporation, the developer of avapritinib, elenestinib and BLU-808. Important nieuws for GIST and systemic mastocytosis experts.

Interested in Langerhans, Erdheim-Chester, Rosai-Dorfman and other super rare histiocytic neoplasms? Good summary of real-world experience in the Low Countries with targeted treatments in Kemps et al. doi: 10.1016/j.bneo.2024.100023

Invite to FORTRESS translational research workshop (Leuven, Feb. 2026) mailed around earlier this week. Don’t forget to register NOW. By invitation only. Attendance limited to 130 participants and only one guest can win the famous trophy! kuleuven.be/fortress/locat…