Abstract

Aim: Effective adjuvant or neo-adjuvant regimens of chemotherapy have dramatically improved the prognosis of patients with high-grade osteosarcoma of the extremity, localized at diagnosis. In this study, the efficacy and tolerability of cisplatin and doxorubicin combination regimen as a neoadjuvant therapy of osteogenic sarcoma were investigated. Methods: From Jan 1999 to Jan 2003, 15 patients with osteosarcoma of the extremity and non-metastatic at presentation, were treated according to the following scheme: primary chemotherapy with cisplatinum 100 mg/m2 day 1 at 3-week intervals and doxorubicin 25mg/m2 day 1,2,3 at 3-week intervals, resection of primary tumor and adjuvant chemotherapy. Results: Five (33%) patients achieved good response as a tumor necrosis ratio. Five-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 66% and 80%, respectively. 11 (73%) patients were performed limb salvage surgery. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy regimen was well tolerated. Conculusion: Cisplatin and doxorubicin combination regimen is considered as a reasonable option for neo-adjuvant treatment of patients with osteogenic sarcoma.