ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Osteosarcoma is one of the most common juvenile malignant tumors in Korea. Combined modality treatment [pre-operative chemotherapy + surgery (limb salvage or amputation) + adjuvant chemotherapy] had improved the overall survival and quality of life. To improve the local control rate, we introduced pre-operative chemotherapy combined with intra-arterial (IA) cisplatin and continuous intravenous infusion (CI) of adriamycin. We evaluated the efficacy and feasibility, such as limb salvage rate, recurrence pattern and the survival impact, based on the histologic response of pre-operative chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourty-one patients with histologically-proven high grade osteosarcoma of the extremities were enrolled from January 1990 to June 1996. Pre-operative chemotherapy, cisplatin 120 mg/m2 IA and adriamycin 75 mg/m2/72hrs CI, was administered for 3 cycles with 3 week interval, followed by surgery. Post-operative chemotherapy was applied by the tumor necrosis rate. If the tumor necrosis of the specimen was more than 90%, the same regimen af the preoperative one was administered for 3 cycles. A salvage regimen (Ifosfamide 7.5 gm/m2/5d IV + high dose MTX 10 gm/m2 IV VP-16 360 mg/m2/3d IV) was administered every 3 weeks for 6 cycles if the tumor necrosis was <90%. RESULTS: Of 41 patients, 37 were evaluable for efficacy and toxicities, because 4 refused further chemotherapy after 1 or 2 cycles. Twenty-one patients were male and 16 female, with the median age of 16 years (8-41). The tumor locations were as follows: distal femur 20, proximal tibia 8, humerus 6, distal tibia 2 and 1 in proximal femur. All but one patient, who died of neutropenic sepsis, completed the planned pre-operative therapy. Of the 36 patients who received surgery, limb salvage surgery was possible in 30 patients (83.3%) and 27 patients (75%) showed a good response (10 with grade III, 27.8%; 17 with grade IV, 47.2%). With a median follow-up of 23 months, 3-year disease-free survival rate was 54.7% and overall survival rate was 78.3%. Of the 15 patients who recurred, the major metastatic site was the lungs. No operation-related mortality was observed. Most patients experienced grade III-IV nausea, vomiting and hematologic toxicities, which were reversible with supportive care. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative chemotherapy combined with IA cisplatin and CI adriamycin induced higher good response rate without survival benefits. To improve the survival rate, the design of good salvage chemotherapy with a non-cross resistant regimen should be considered.