Problématique des tumeurs rares : une nouvelle rubrique du Bulletin du cancer1

Rare cancers are defined by an incidence less than 5/100,000, which means in France less than 3,000 new cases a year. They are difficult to diagnose, their physiopathology has led to new knowledge in cancer medicine. There is no large experience for their management, and they are not generally the subject of randomized trials to establish treatment strategy. Therefore they are often managed by suboptimal cares. Even individually rare cancers do not concern large populations, the number of patients suffering of rare cancer is important. This is the reason why the “Bulletin du cancer” will open a new section on rare cancers. This article aims to draw the context of such a decision, based on an effort to allow these patients to receive optimal management.