(P 153) PRIORITY SETTING PARNTERSHIP RETROPERITONEAL SOFT TISSUE SARCOMAS

Objective: Retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas present unique challenges due to their anatomical location, late diagnosis, complex management, and limited understanding of their biology. The evidence guiding the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcomes of retroperitoneal sarcomas is scarce compared to more common malignancies. The scarcity of evidence stems from the rarity of the disease, the heterogeneity of its presentation, and the lack of dedicated research efforts. Consequently, there is an urgent need to systematically identify and prioritise research questions to guide future investigations and improve the understanding, management, and outcomes of patients with retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas. The objectives of this priority-setting partnership are to identify the top 10 unanswered research questions in the study of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas by engaging stakeholders and reviewing the existing literature and to generate hypotheses that can be addressed in clinical trials.

Methods: A collaboration has been established between the sarcoma center at LMU University Hospital Munich, Germany, the research group "Priority Setting Partnerships“ (Ulm University Hospital, Germany), and the German Sarcoma Foundation (a patient advocacy group). The project encompasses a two-year work program consisting of eight work packages (WP), following recommendations by the James Lind Alliance.
WP 1 focuses on Stakeholder Integration, involving identification and contact establishment with various stakeholders. A steering committee comprising representatives from each stakeholder group will oversee the PSP, and an initial meeting of all stakeholders will initiate the partnership officially.
WP 2 entails conducting an Initial (Screening) Survey. Surveys will be administered online and in paper format, targeting the public and involved parties. Focus groups with relevant stakeholders will also be organized, and the transcripts will undergo framework analysis.
The Initial (Screening) Survey findings will be refined in WP 3 to create a shortlist of prioritized research questions. Recurring topics from the survey will be synthesized into questions within each topic. The shortlisted questions will be further refined through consultation with experts and the steering committee.
Work Package 4 involves a Systematic Literature Search to determine if any of the questions have already been addressed, allowing for the exclusion of redundant inquiries.
An interim prioritization will be conducted in Work Package 5. This will involve administering a second round of surveys to stakeholders to determine the relative importance and urgency of the questions.
Work Package 6 focuses on the Final Prioritization. The project will plan a consensus meeting involving all stakeholders to finalize the prioritization of the research questions. Through structured discussions and facilitated consensus-building processes, agreement will be reached on the most critical research questions.
Work Package 7 pertains to the Dissemination of Results. The outcomes of the project will be shared among all stakeholders and partners. Furthermore, the results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, and presentations will be made at relevant national and international conferences. Public relations efforts will be undertaken through established websites and press releases.
Finally, Work Package 8 will be dedicated to Trial Design. The project aims to prepare outlines for three clinical trials that address the prioritised research questions. These trial designs will be developed for submission to a public funding body.

Results: A systematic literature search has revealed that no retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma-specific priority-setting partnership has been initiated yet. The steering committee has been formed, and government funding for this project has been secured for a two-year period.

Conclusion: The Priority Setting Partnership Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcomas has been initiated. It will identify the top 10 research questions in this specific field and translate them into hypotheses that can be tested in clinical trials. National funding has been obtained, and the project is open to include stakeholders from the global sarcoma community.