Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone cancer; together with Ewing's sarcoma it accounts for most primary bone malignancies. There is a preference for the metaphyseal region of tubular long bones. 50% of cases occur around the knee. It is a malignant connective (soft) tissue tumor whose neoplastic cells present osteoblastic differentiation and form tumoral bone.

Treatment

Standard therapy is a combination of limb-salvage orthopaedic surgery and

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

a combination of high dose methotrexate with leucovorin rescue, intra-arterial

Related Topics:
Methotrexate - Leucovorin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

cisplatin (with or without caffeine(Japan)), adriamycin, ifosfamide with mesna, BCD, etoposide, muramyl tri-peptite(MTP).

Related Topics:
Cisplatin - Adriamycin - Ifosfamide - BCD - Etoposide

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Classic treatment is Intra-arterial cisplatin with Adriamycin. Ifosfamide can be used

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

as a adjuvant treatment if the necrosis rate is low.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

3-year event free survival ranges from 50% to 75%. and 5-year survival ranges from

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

60% to 85+% in some studies. Overall, 60-65% treated 5-years ago(2000) will be alive today.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Osteosarcoma as one of the lowest survival rates for pediatric cancer despite chemotherapy's success

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

in osteosarcoma of 6 chemotherapies, interferon-alpha, interleukin-2, and being the prototype

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

of solid tumors in cancer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Treatment studies come from Children's hospital Boston, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Children's Oncology

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Group, Italian Oncology Group, Japan, and MD Anderson in Texas.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fluids are given for hydration. Drugs like Krytril and Zofran help with nausau and vomiting.

Related Topics:
Krytril - Zofran

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Neupogen, epogen, Neulasta help with white blood cell counts and neutrophil counts.

Related Topics:
Neupogen - Epogen - Neulasta

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Blood helps with anemia.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~