The Challenge of Rare Cancers in Current and Advancing Treatment

The term rare cancers is relatively new in oncology, with significant presence in cancer literature occurring only since the early 2000s. Epidemiologic studies in Europe and the United States show that rare cancers account for about 25% of adult cancers. However, rare cancer types have been traditionally understudied, with an associated lack of progress in survival and challenges in decision making for patients, physicians, and policy makers.