Prognostic Value of a Positive RT-PCR Test in Patients With Ewing Sarcoma

Study Summary

This study will determine whether the results of a test called reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) correlate with clinical outcomes in patients with Ewing sarcoma, and if they can be used to help identify patients at high risk for metastasis (spread of the cancer beyond the original site). This is a companion study to another NCI trial (AEWS0031), which is examining the effectiveness of an intensified chemotherapy regimen for patients with Ewing sarcoma. The primary purposes of AEWS0031 are to determine: 1) if chemotherapy given every 2 weeks can cure more patients with Ewing sarcoma and similar tumors than chemotherapy given every 3 weeks; and 2) if certain biological characteristics of these tumors can predict how well the chemotherapy will work. Many, but not all, patients with Ewing sarcoma that has not metastasized can be cured with standard radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy treatment. Most patients whose tumors have spread, however, are not cured with standard treatment. A goal of future therapy is to identify patients at highest risk for metastasis so that they can be given more intensive therapy, and, conversely, patients at lower risk of relapse can receive less toxic treatment. Patients enrolled in AEWS0031 are eligible for this companion study. No additional procedures re required; RT-PCR testing will be performed on blood and bone marrow samples collected for AEWS0031. ...