About this Research Topic

Background

Rare oncological cases present a unique set of challenges for both patients and healthcare professionals. These cases involve cancers that occur infrequently, often with limited clinical data and limited treatment options available. Managing these cases requires a multidisciplinary approach, creativity, and a commitment to providing the best possible care for patients facing these uncommon and often aggressive diseases. Patients with rare oncological cases frequently experience feelings of isolation and anxiety due to the scarcity of information and support available. Providing psychological and emotional support is an integral part of their care.

One of the primary challenges in managing rare oncological cases is late diagnosis, most of these cancers lack the recognizable symptoms or markers seen in more common cancers, making it difficult to be identified in their early stages. As a result, patients often present with advanced disease, reducing their chances of successful treatment. Moreover, rare oncological cases may require specialized treatments or experimental therapies not readily available at every healthcare facility. Rare cancers often lack the extensive research and clinical data available for more common cancer types. Limited research and limited clinical data hamper the development of evidence-based treatment approaches.

To address this issue, there must be a concerted effort in research and publishing clinical experiences, enabling clinicians to make more informed decisions about patient care, because conducting clinical trials might be difficult considering the limited number of cases. In many cases, the treatment options for rare cancers may involve novel therapies or repurposed drugs, as there may be no established standard of care. Advances in epidemiology, genomics, and precision medicine have paved the way for more personalized treatments, even for rare oncological cases. Genetic testing can help identify specific mutations or alterations in the tumor, allowing for targeted therapies that may be more effective in managing the cancer.

The aim of this Research Topic is to update healthcare professionals on the latest research and emerging treatments for rare cancers, promoting the best possible care for their patients. While challenges exist, advancements in epidemiology, medical science, diagnostic tools, and treatment options provide hope for better outcomes for those facing rare cancers. Efforts to increase awareness, research, and support for these patients are crucial in improving their prognosis and quality of life.

We welcome contributions from researchers and clinicians that provide new insights into the epidemiology and management of rare oncological cases from different fields of oncology involving collaboration among various medical specialties, including oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, epidemiologists, and pathologists, providing innovation with patient-centered approaches.

Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases) are not suitable for publication in this journal.

Keywords: cancer, rare, management, challenges, approaches, clinical experience, diagnosis dilema, novel therapies

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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