title: [Goal and results of the COSS study].
abstract: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone (annual incidence: 2 - 3/Mio). Ever since 25 years ago, affected children, adolescents, and adults from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland receive their therapy within trials of the Cooperative Osteosarcoma Study Group (COSS). Approximately 60 % of all patients ever entered into COSS-trials could be cured with an interdisciplinary treatment approach consisting of complete surgical removal of the primary tumor plus intensive pre- and postoperative chemotherapy. The COSS-group's database now includes information on more than 3,000 osteosarcoma patients treated with such a multimodal approach, the largest series worldwide. The present paper is intended to detail the experience gathered from this cohort.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Münster, Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Pädiatrische Hämatologie und Onkologie, Münster. coss@uni-muenster.de.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flege
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bielack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001132:Arm / Q000601:surgery*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005858:Germany; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D007069:Ifosfamide; D008727:Methotrexate