The SSG was formed in 1979 by physicians and scientists from the Scandinavian countries with a primary interest in tumors of connective tissues.
The goal of the SSG is to advance the care of patients with sarcoma and to increase knowledge of all aspects of the biology of these tumors, including basic and clinical research. The SSG has developed treatment protocols for different sarcoma types and participates in international clinical trials.
At this website you can access treatment protocols, find information about previous and future SSG meetings with links to SSG publications.
SSG administrative coordinator: Eva-Mari Olofsson
Email: Eva-Mari.Olofsson@med.lu.se
The Scandinavian Sarcoma Group is a part of Lund University and follows the instructions/regulations for data protection for Lund University.
For more information please, follow this link https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about/contact-us/processing-of-personal-data-at-lund-university.
SSG guidelines for referral of patients with soft tissue tumors of the extremities and trunk wall
Soft tissue sarcomas are rare malignancies with a clinical presentation that is often not what is expected from a malignant tumor. Patients with soft tissue sarcomas typically have no symptoms from the tumor. Pain, tenderness or loss of function is often not present and the person is feeling perfectly healthy. The only sign of a possibly malignant tumor is the mere existence of a lump accidentally noted by the patient. This is why these tumors are often misinterpreted as benign lesions and neglected by patients as well as physicians. Most soft tissue sarcomas are, however, highly malignant and around 1/3 of the patients are killed by metastatic disease.
Due to the fact that soft tissue sarcomas are rare, knowledge about these tumors is generally limited within the health care organization. Therefore, for optimal care, diagnosis and treatment should be performed at special centres with multidisciplinary expertise in these tumors.
The most important aspect of the guidelines for referral is to spread awareness of the existence of soft tissue sarcomas and that a ”clinically benign” lump may well be highly malignant. However, because most soft tissue lumps are benign, there have to be guidelines for when to suspect a soft tissue sarcoma. Epidemiologic data for benign and malignant soft tissue tumors show that the risk for malignancy increases with size and deep location. Apart from these simple characteristics, there are no specific features that can be used to estimate the probability of a malignant tumor.
Hence, we recommend that patients presenting with a tumor or lump with the following features should be referred to a sarcoma center as soon as possible and before any surgical intervention:
All tumors >5 cm
All deep tumors, irrespective of size
SSGVII:4
Centralized Registration of Sarcoma Patients in Scandinavia. Ongoing inclusion since 1986.
SSG XXV – The Stop-GIST Trial: Discontinuation of imatinib in patients with oligo-metatstatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor that has become radiologically undetectable with treatment. A prospective multicenter phase II study.
SSG XXII – THREE VERSUS FIVE YEARS OF ADJUVANT IMATINIB AS TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH OPERABLE GIST WITH
A HIGH RISK FOR RECURRENCE. A randomised phase III multicenter study.
SSG XX
A Scandinavian Sarcoma Group treatment protocol for adult patients with non-metastatic high-risk soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk wall. Closed for inclusion June 2014. Follow-up is ongoing.
The SSG XX study protocol can be downloaded from here. The latest CRF version and corresponding instructions can be downloaded from “Members only” and please note that this page is password protected and only available for SSG members.
SSG XXIII – ALT-GIST CLINICAL STUDY (AG1013GST / CTC 0122 / EORTC 1321-STBSG)
A collaboration between the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG), the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group (SSG).
rEECur (Euro Ewing Consortium)
An international randomized controlled trial of chemotherapy for the treatment of recurrent and primary refractory Ewing sarcoma. For more information regarding the protocol, click here.
EURELOS
The Scandinavian Sarcoma Group participates with the Cooperative OsteoSarkom Studiengruppe (COSS) and the Italian Sarcoma Group (ISG) in the EUropean RELapsed OSteosarcoma Registry.
The aim of the registry is to collect prospective information on patients with relapsed osteosarcoma. The participating groups will supply the registry with information on demographic factors and tumor related variables as well as information on both first-line and relapse treatment. These data will be evaluated for possible correlation with outcome.
EURAMOS I
A randomized trial of the European and American Osteosarcoma Study Group (EOI, GPOH, NCRI, SSG). A randomized trial of the European and American Osteosarcoma Study Group to optimize treatment strategies for resectable osteosarcoma based on histological response to pre-operative chemotherapy. Patients registered between 2005-2011. Registration closed, ongoing follow up. CRFs and corresponding instructions can be downloaded from “Members only”. Details regarding this trial may be found at www.euramos.org.
Euroboss1
A European treatment protocol for bone sarcoma in patients older than 40 years.
Closed for inclusion December 31, 2014. Follow-up is ongoing and data will be collected for 2 more years. Before more response and toxicity data are available the treatment arm for good histological reponders should also be applied for poor responders. In principle 9 cycles (in combinations of doxorubicin, cisplatin, ifosfamide) as in the protocol, but no addition of HD-MTX to poor responders. Registration closed, ongoing follow up.
SSG XXIV
Recommendations for Radiotherapy in Bone- and Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
Analysis of Genetic Changes in Musculoskeletal Tumors 4th edition, 2012
SSG XVII Version 2
Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Intraabdominal, Retroperitoneal, and Uterine Sarcoma 2008. See ESMO guidelines.
SSG XIX
Recommendations for treatment of metastatic soft tissue sarcomas in adult patients 2004.
See ESMO guidelines.
SSG Recommendations for Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Sarcoma
ESMO guidelines for bone sarcomas, soft tissue and visceral sarcoma, and GIST updated 2014.
Guidelines for basic MRI examination of suspected bone and soft tissue tumors
Treatment summary for patients and primary care doctors
Norwegian version
Swedish version
Latest updated February, 2017
EMO/FM