COMPASS - Project
The Grand Challenge
Sarcomas are rare cancers of bone, muscle, fat, and connective tissue. With over 100 subtypes, sarcomas differ widely in appearance, behavior, and genetics. Diagnosis generally relies on a multitude of genetic tests which are slow, fragmented, and each provide only limited insights. This delays and complicates clinical decision making and still fails to provide a diagnosis in up to 20% of cases. Moreover, treatments for sarcoma and patient outcomes have improved little over the last decades.
Objectives and approach
Comprehensive ‘multi-omics profiling' typically involves examining the tumor's genome (DNA) and transcriptome (RNA) to better understand the disease and find biomarkers that guide the diagnosis. COMPASS sets out to develop, validate, and implement a streamlined ‘omics-based workflow' that combines genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic (protein) information of the tumor to guide clinical decisions and improve patient care. Our aims are the following:
- Use advanced multi-omics techniques to study tumors' DNA, RNA, and proteins all at once, providing insights into gene regulation, protein function, and chemical modifications.
- Identify new actionable biomarkers and improve our understanding of the disease.
- Generate personalized patient reports that guide clinicians and patients towards optimal treatment schedules (clinical trials, off-label drugs or existing treatments).
- Manage and analyze large data sets with novel computational tools and cloud technology, while safeguarding responsible data sharing.
- Analyze fresh and preserved tumor samples, while validating findings in preclinical mouse models.
- Participate in quality assurance programs to receive accreditation and reimbursement for the developed test, making the approach cost-effective.
- Contribute to clinical guidelines and healthcare policies
Engaging key stakeholders to boost impact
The COMPASS consortium unites sarcoma researchers, clinical geneticists, pathologists, surgeons, computational-, technology- and data experts and patients to tackle this grand challenge. Its interdisciplinary approach ensures seamless collaboration between scientific research and clinical practice, always keeping patients' needs at the center.
Looking ahead
The COMPASS workflow will simplify and improve sarcoma diagnosis, replacing slow and fragmented testing. It will speed up patient care, provide important biomarkers, improve our understanding of the disease, and help meet the needs of patients with rare or hard-to-understand sarcomas.