Clinical experience with preoperative chemotherapy for osteosarcoma.
Since 1978 preoperative chemotherapy has been administered to 15 consecutive patients with osteosarcomas in Zurich. Preoperative chemotherapy was acceptably well tolerated and did not impair surgical procedures. Our retrospective analysis confirmed that the extent of necrosis after preoperative chemotherapy is of biological importance for the further course of the disease. Patients with extensive necrosis had better relapse-free survival and longer overall survival than those with little necrosis.
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery