Abstract
In the treatment of osteosarcoma, many reports in the literature outline that tumor response to chemotherapy directly correlates with disease-free survival and/or mortality. The aim of this study is to evaluate if the percentage of tumor necrosis is a sole prognostic indicator of overall survival in osteosarcoma patients.
We retrospectively studied 33 osteosarcoma cases treated in our institution from 1997 to 2006. All patients were treated preoperatively with HDMTX chemotherapy. The percent necrosis of the excised specimen were compared with survival rates of the patients.
Sixteen patients were good responders (Huvos III, IV- > 90% necrosis), 16 patients were poor responders (Huvos I, II- < 90% necrosis), and one patient died during preop. chemotherapy. With a mean follow-up of 5,48 years (3–12 years) 22 patients are NOD (not evident disease), in 8 patient disease progressed, 8 patients died. Statistical analysis could not establish a significant correlation between percent necrosis and patient survival.
Outcome of osteosarcoma may be dependent on a variety of factors s.a. tumor size, location, metastasis, surgical therapy, pathologic fracture. Tumor necrosis itself may be dependent on the histological subtype of the tumor and P-glycoprotein expression. In this series we could not establish tumor necrosis as a sole prognostic factor of patient survival.
Correspondence should be addressed to Anastasia C. Tilentzoglou MD, General Secretary of the Board of Directors of HAOST, 20 A. Fleming Str. (N.Filothei), Gr. 15123 Maroussi, Athens Greece. E-mail: info@eexot.gr
