- Synovial sarcoma is a rare and aggressive cancer that arises in soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and fatty tissue, primarily affecting adolescents and young adults.
- Between one and three cases per million people are diagnosed each year.
Madrid, September 28th, 2026 – The PharmaMar Foundation is hosting the International Symposium on Synovial Sarcoma 2026 in Madrid, an international meeting dedicated to the abovementioned disease, a rare and aggressive soft tissue tumor that occurs most frequently in adolescents and young adults. The symposium brings together some of the world’s leading experts from Europe and North America in sarcoma biology, epigenetics, translational research, and clinical oncology, with the goal of advancing the understanding of the molecular architecture of this tumor and fostering new collaborations that can accelerate therapeutic innovation.
A Sarcoma That Strikes Early in Adulthood
Each year, between one and three cases of synovial sarcoma are diagnosed per million people, accounting for approximately 5% to 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. The disease typically develops in the extremities, particularly near the large joints of the lower limbs. Although the genetic alteration that defines synovial sarcoma has been identified, important questions remain regarding the mechanisms that trigger its development. Approximately one-third of patients are diagnosed before the age of 30, an uncommon characteristic among adult cancers. Because the disease is often painless in its early stages and may initially be present as a slowly growing mass, it is frequently mistaken for a sports injury, tendinitis, or another benign joint condition, delaying diagnosis. As with other sarcomas, its low incidence presents significant challenges for research, clinical trial recruitment, and resource allocation.
Dr. Gregory Cote, Mass General Cancer Center at Massachusetts, USA, notes that “Synovial sarcoma remains one of the most challenging cancers we face today, with significant unmet needs for young adult patients despite growing advances in our understanding of the disease biology. Bringing together leading scientists and clinicians in this symposium creates a unique opportunity to share discoveries, foster new collaborations, and accelerate the translation of scientific insights into more effective treatments for patients”.
Scientific Progress Coupled with Significant Clinical Challenges
For localized disease, treatment typically involves a multidisciplinary approach that may combine surgery, radiation therapy, and, in selected cases, chemotherapy. When the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage or recurs with metastatic spread, treatment generally relies on systemic therapies capable of targeting cancer cells throughout the body.
Chemotherapy remains one of the primary treatment options. However, growing insights into the molecular biology of synovial sarcoma have driven the development of new therapeutic strategies in recent years, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies.
Current research aims to translate molecular understanding of synovial sarcoma into more effective and selective treatments. Topics to be addressed during the symposium include the study of tumor epigenetic mechanisms, the development of novel immunotherapy strategies, cellular therapies, molecularly targeted approaches, and the design of international clinical trials tailored to ultra-rare diseases.
The rarity of synovial sarcoma makes both tissue sample collection and patient recruitment for clinical trials particularly challenging. In this context, collaboration among treatment centers, cooperative research groups, basic and clinical researchers and patient advocacy organizations is essential to generate robust evidence and rapidly translate discoveries into clinical practice.
Dr. Javier Martín-Broto, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA, states: “Our findings suggest that targeting how cancer cells process genetic information could become a new avenue for treating synovial sarcoma. While more research is needed before this can benefit patients, the results provide an encouraging step forward in the search for new treatment options.”
“We are grateful to Fundación PharmaMar for giving synovial sarcoma the focused attention it deserves and bringing together expertise from around the world to advance research. For patients and families facing the limits of current treatments, progress cannot come soon enough. The knowledge shared and collaborations formed at this symposium offer hope that the work being done today will lead to more options and better outcomes tomorrow.”
From the perspective of patients, Nathan Imperiale, Chair, Synovial Sarcoma Foundation
comments: “We are grateful to Fundación PharmaMar for giving synovial sarcoma the focused attention it deserves and bringing together expertise from around the world to advance research. For patients and families facing the limits of current treatments, progress cannot come soon enough. The knowledge shared and collaborations formed at this symposium offer hope that the work being done today will lead to more options and better outcomes tomorrow.”
Bringing the Community Together
The symposium brings together more than 230 experts from hospitals, research institutions, and patient advocacy organizations across 14 countries. This specialized forum is among the few international meetings dedicated exclusively to synovial sarcoma and highlights the importance of collaboration among experts from different countries to advance research and improve outcomes for patients affected by this disease. The program features sessions focused on tumor biology and progression, advances in diagnosis, and emerging therapeutic strategies.
“This initiative reflects the PharmaMar Foundation’s commitment to promoting scientific knowledge and advancing biomedical research. Collaboration among experts from different countries and the sharing of expertise in the field of rare tumors are essential to translating scientific advances into clinical practice and creating new opportunities for patients,” said José María Fernández Sousa-Faro, chairman of the PharmaMar Foundation.
The organization of this symposium further reinforces the PharmaMar Foundation’s commitment to advancing knowledge of sarcomas, a family of cancers comprising more than 200 subtypes. Following a first edition dedicated to Ewing sarcoma, the Foundation once again brings together international experts to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration in rare tumors, with the goal of accelerating the translation of research findings into meaningful benefits for patients.
About the PharmaMar Foundation
The PharmaMar Foundation aims to disseminate and promote research and scientific training. It is also committed to understanding and defending marine biodiversity in order to advance science and medicine.
In the area of training, it is considered particularly important for society to be aware of the main advances in the field of research and health. To this end, the PharmaMar Foundation has various initiatives, such as a series of scientific conferences, and collaborates with different institutions and organizations to disseminate information and specialized knowledge in the field of health and science.
Contact
Lara Vadillo – PharmaMar Communications Director
+34 669 47 18 03
comunicacion@fundacionpharmamar.com
Reference
[1] Synovial Sarcoma. Medical Dictionary. Clínica Universidad de Navarra. https://www.cun.es/diccionario-medico/terminos/sarcoma-sinovial