title: Efficacy and safety of gemcitabine-docetaxel combination therapy for recurrent or refractory high-grade osteosarcoma in China: a retrospective study of 18 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we describe experiences with gemcitabine-docetaxel combination therapy as salvage treatment for Chinese patients with recurrent or refractory high-grade osteosarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 18 patients with recurrent or refractory high-grade osteosarcoma who had undergone gemcitabine-docetaxel combination treatment as salvage chemotherapy. Gemcitabine at 675 mg/m(2) was administered on Days 1 and 8, and docetaxel at 75-100 mg/m(2) was administered on Day 8. The combination therapy was repeated every 3 weeks. Treatment was continued until evidence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients (ages 12-57 years) received a total of 44 cycles of chemotherapy (median: 2 courses; range: 2-6 courses). The overall response rate was 5.6% and the disease control rate was 22.3%, with one partial response and three patients with stable disease. The median time to progression and overall survival time were 2 months (range: 2-6 months) and 8 months (range: 3-21 months), respectively. Major severe toxicities were hematologic toxicities, including Grade 3 or 4 anemia (9.1%), leucopenia (29.5%) and thrombocytopenia (18.1%) in total cycles; mild toxicities included Grade 1 or 2 nausea and vomiting (31.8%), fatigue (38.6%) and alopecia (20.5%). There were no treatment-related deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the current study, gemcitabine-docetaxel combination therapy at this dosage and schedule was found to be well tolerated and marginally effective, which could be considered as salvage therapy for patients with recurrent or refractory high-grade osteosarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Xiang
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Ai-Na
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D002681:China; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018450:Disease Progression; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine