Emerging drugs for high-grade osteosarcoma.
BACKGROUND
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in children and adolescents. This review focuses on the most promising therapeutic markers and drugs which may potentially be considered for innovative high-grade OS treatments.


METHODS
The list of drugs and compounds reviewed has been generated by taking into account those which target markers of potential clinical interest for high-grade OS and have been included in Phase I, II or III clinical trials. The literature search covers the last 40 years, starting from the first OS chemotherapy reports of the early 1970s. Particular relevance was given to reports and reviews on new targeted therapies of possible clinical usefulness for high-grade OS.


RESULTS
This review gives an updated overview of novel therapeutic approaches which have been or are going to be evaluated in Phase I/II/III clinical studies for high-grade OS.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of the information that has emerged so far, it can be predicted that in the next 5 - 10 years, new agents to be included in innovative treatment strategies for selected subgroups of high-grade OS patients may become available.
Hattinger
Claudia Maria
CM
Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacogenetics Research Unit, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
Pasello
Michela
M
Ferrari
Stefano
S
Picci
Piero
P
Serra
Massimo
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor