Scandinavian Sarcoma Group Osteosarcoma Study SSG VIII: prognostic factors for outcome and the role of replacement salvage chemotherapy for poor histological responders.
From 1990 to 1997, 113 eligible patients with classical osteosarcoma received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of high-dose methotrexate, cisplatin and doxorubicin. Good histological responders continued to receive the same therapy postoperatively, while poor responders received salvage therapy with an etoposide/ifosfamide combination. With a median follow-up of 83 months, the projected metastasis-free and overall survival rates at 5 years are 63 and 74%, respectively. Independent favourable prognostic factors for outcome were tumour volume < 190 ml, 24-h serum methotrexate > 4.5 microM and female gender. The etoposide/ifosfamide replacement combination did not improve outcome in the poor histological responders. In conclusion, this intensive multi-agent chemotherapy results in > 70% of patients with classical osteosarcoma surviving for 5 years. The data obtained from this non-randomised study do not support discontinuation and exchange of all drugs used preoperatively in histological poor responders. As observed in previous Scandinavian osteosarcoma studies, female gender appears to be a strong predictor of a favourable outcome.
Department of Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello, NO-0310 Oslo, Norway. sigbjorn.smeland@klinmed.uio.no
S
S
Smeland
C
C
Müller
T A
TA
Alvegard
T
T
Wiklund
T
T
Wiebe
O
O
Björk
A E
AE
Stenwig
H
H
Willén
T
T
Holmström
G
G
Follerås
O
O
Brosjö
A
A
Kivioja
K
K
Jonsson
O
O
Monge
G
G
Saeter
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011379:Prognosis; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis
D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D008727:Methotrexate