On October 23, 2026, OncoDaily brought together international sarcoma specialists, researchers, and patient advocates in Madrid for OncoDaily Grand Rounds at ESMO 2026: Sarcoma Edition, a dedicated scientific meeting held alongside the ESMO 2026 Congress.
Hosted at the Novotel Madrid Feria and Airport, the event continued the Sarcoma Grand Rounds series launched during ASCO 2026, providing a forum for examining recent developments in sarcoma research, emerging therapeutic strategies, and the challenges that continue to influence clinical practice.
Co-chaired by Professor Robin Jones and Professor Javier Martín-Broto, the meeting addressed several important areas of sarcoma oncology, including high-grade chondrosarcoma, fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeted approaches, targeted therapy in dedifferentiated liposarcoma, and immunogenic cell death.
The event was supported by Agenus, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, PharmaMar, and the Sarcoma Foundation of America, bringing together pharmaceutical research, biotechnology, and patient advocacy in support of scientific discussion and collaboration.
From ASCO to ESMO: Continuing the Sarcoma Discussion
Following the successful Sarcoma Grand Rounds held during ASCO 2026, OncoDaily extended the initiative to Madrid, maintaining its focus on one of oncology’s most complex and heterogeneous groups of malignancies.
Sarcomas encompass numerous distinct subtypes, each presenting different biological characteristics, clinical behaviors, and therapeutic challenges. Their relative rarity makes international collaboration particularly important, both for advancing clinical research and for improving access to specialized expertise.
The ESMO 2026 edition provided an opportunity to examine questions that remain central to sarcoma management: how emerging treatments may change outcomes, which molecular targets offer therapeutic opportunities, and how new evidence can inform clinical decisions.
Under the scientific leadership of Professor Robin Jones and Professor Javier Martín-Broto, the program brought together perspectives from clinical research, treatment development, and patient advocacy.
Inside the Grand Rounds: Four Scientific Topics Shaping Sarcoma Care
The scientific program opened with welcome remarks and introductions by Dr. Amalya Sarsgyan, followed by a presentation emphasizing the importance of incorporating patient experiences into discussions about sarcoma care.
Pan Pantziarka, representing the Sarcoma Foundation of America, presented The Patient Perspective, placing the needs and experiences of patients at the beginning of the scientific program.
Professor Robin Jones then addressed the question, Are We Changing the Natural History of High-Grade Chondrosarcomas? The session focused on an important clinical challenge in bone sarcoma, where treatment options remain limited and the potential to improve long-term outcomes continues to drive research.
The discussion subsequently turned to emerging therapeutic targets.
Professor Emanuela Palmerini presented Targeting FAP in Sarcomas: Radioligands and Beyond, examining a developing area of research involving fibroblast activation protein and its potential applications in sarcoma treatment.
Professor Antoine Italiano explored Targeted Therapy in Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma: What Can We Expect Going Forward?, addressing the evolving landscape of molecularly directed treatment approaches in this challenging sarcoma subtype.
Professor Javier Martín-Broto concluded the scientific presentations with Targeting Immunogenic Cell Death in Sarcomas, bringing attention to therapeutic strategies involving tumor cell death and antitumor immune responses.
The meeting continued with a panel discussion and audience Q&A involving all speakers, providing an opportunity to consider the clinical implications of the topics presented.
Closing remarks and key takeaways were delivered by Professor Robin Jones and Professor Javier Martín-Broto.
Together, the sessions reflected the breadth of contemporary sarcoma research, from disease-specific treatment challenges to emerging molecular and immune-based therapeutic approaches.
Supporting Scientific Exchange: The Partners Behind the Madrid Meeting
An important part of the OncoDaily Grand Rounds at ESMO 2026 was the participation of organizations supporting oncology research, therapeutic development, and patient advocacy.
Agenus, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, PharmaMar, and the Sarcoma Foundation of America contributed to the meeting through distinct partnership roles, supporting an event dedicated to professional exchange and continued discussion of developments in sarcoma care.
Their participation reflected the different areas of expertise involved in addressing the challenges of rare cancers, where progress depends on research, clinical experience, therapeutic development, and an understanding of patient needs.
Agenus: Supporting Scientific Dialogue in Cancer Immunotherapy
Agenus participated in the OncoDaily Grand Rounds as an Enhanced Partner.
The biotechnology company focuses on the development of cancer immunotherapies, including approaches intended to strengthen antitumor immune responses.
Its involvement supported a meeting that included discussion of immunogenic cell death, an area of research relevant to the broader investigation of immune-based treatment strategies in sarcoma.
As the role of immunotherapy continues to be investigated across different sarcoma subtypes, scientific exchange remains important for understanding both the opportunities and limitations of emerging approaches.
Agenus’s participation contributed to the wider involvement of the biotechnology sector in a program focused on developments in sarcoma oncology.
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals: Advancing the Conversation on Targeted Therapies
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals supported the meeting as an Educational Grantor.
The oncology-focused pharmaceutical company has experience in developing targeted treatments, including therapies relevant to gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a distinct type of soft tissue sarcoma.
The importance of molecularly targeted therapies was reflected in the scientific agenda, particularly in the discussion of treatment strategies for dedifferentiated liposarcoma and the future of precision approaches in sarcoma care.
As molecular characterization becomes increasingly relevant to treatment selection, continued research is essential to identifying therapeutic targets and understanding which patients may benefit from specific interventions.
Deciphera’s educational support contributed to a scientific meeting examining these questions within the broader landscape of sarcoma treatment.
PharmaMar: A Foundational Partner with an Established Role in Sarcoma Therapeutics
PharmaMar joined the OncoDaily Grand Rounds at ESMO 2026 as a Foundational Partner.
The pharmaceutical company has an established history in oncology drug development, particularly in marine-derived anticancer compounds.
Its work includes the development of trabectedin, a treatment used in certain settings for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma.
PharmaMar’s involvement was particularly relevant to a meeting dedicated to understanding how established and emerging therapeutic strategies may influence the management of sarcoma.
Despite advances in systemic treatment, many patients with advanced sarcoma continue to face limited therapeutic options, underscoring the importance of continued drug development and clinical investigation.
Through its foundational partnership, PharmaMar supported the Grand Rounds and the opportunity for international specialists to exchange perspectives on current research and future treatment directions.
Sarcoma Foundation of America: Ensuring the Patient Perspective Remains Central
The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) participated as the Strategic Patient Advocacy Partner.
Dedicated to advancing sarcoma research, raising awareness, and supporting patients and families affected by the disease, SFA brought an important patient-centered dimension to the meeting.
Its role was also reflected directly in the scientific agenda.
Pan Pantziarka’s presentation, The Patient Perspective, was among the opening sessions, emphasizing that advances in treatment must be considered alongside the experiences, priorities, and challenges of people living with sarcoma.
For patients with rare malignancies, access to specialist care, clinical trials, accurate information, and appropriate support can present significant difficulties.
Patient advocacy organizations contribute to addressing these challenges by connecting patients, healthcare professionals, and researchers while promoting greater awareness of unmet needs.
The involvement of the Sarcoma Foundation of America reinforced the importance of including patient perspectives in discussions about research priorities and the future of sarcoma care.
Different Roles, One Scientific Conversation
The partnership structure of the OncoDaily Grand Rounds reflected the range of organizations involved in contemporary oncology.
Agenus brought its background in cancer immunotherapy research, while Deciphera Pharmaceuticals contributed educational support from an oncology-focused company experienced in targeted therapeutics.
PharmaMar participated as a Foundational Partner, reflecting its established involvement in the development of treatments relevant to soft tissue sarcoma.
The Sarcoma Foundation of America complemented these contributions through its patient advocacy role, ensuring that the discussion extended beyond therapeutic development to include the experiences and needs of patients.
Although their activities and areas of expertise differ, the organizations supported a common setting for scientific exchange.
For a field as diverse as sarcoma oncology, such meetings provide opportunities to connect research developments with clinical questions and encourage communication across institutions, specialties, and countries.
Looking Beyond Madrid: What Comes Next for Sarcoma Research?
The scientific topics addressed during the Grand Rounds illustrated several directions of ongoing sarcoma research.
Questions surrounding the natural history of high-grade chondrosarcoma, the development of FAP-targeted radioligands, treatment strategies in dedifferentiated liposarcoma, and immunogenic cell death highlight the range of approaches being investigated.
They also demonstrate why sarcoma cannot be approached as a single disease. Differences in tumor biology and clinical behavior require subtype-specific evidence and carefully considered treatment strategies.
The panel discussion and audience Q&A provided an opportunity to bring these perspectives together, while the inclusion of patient advocacy emphasized the importance of considering clinical research in the context of patient needs.
Building on its earlier meeting at ASCO 2026, the Madrid edition continued OncoDaily’s Sarcoma Grand Rounds series as a platform for international scientific discussion.
With the support of Agenus, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, PharmaMar, and the Sarcoma Foundation of America, OncoDaily Grand Rounds at ESMO 2026: Sarcoma Edition brought together scientific expertise and patient advocacy around questions that remain central to the future of sarcoma care.