PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Valerae O Lewis

Publications and source records attributed to Valerae O Lewis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Chemotherapy response is an important predictor of local recurrence in Ewing sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Local recurrence in Ewing sarcoma is associated with a poor prognosis. The purpose of the study was to determine the factors that predict local recurrence after surgical treatment of the primary tumor. METHODS: Between 1990 and 2001, 64 patients underwent surgical resection of Ewing sarcoma. Surgical margins were assessed histologically and radiologically. Response to preoperative chemotherapy was determined by detailed specimen mapping. Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) was calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Multivariate analysis was performed with the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A number of factors were found to be associated with local recurrence on univariate analysis. Patients with a good response to chemotherapy (> or = 90% tumor necrosis), had superior LRFS at 5 years (86% vs 51%, P = .015). Central site of disease was associated with an increased rate of recurrence. The LRFS at 5 years was 50% for the chest wall, 74% for pelvic/scapular, and 86% for extremity tumors (P = .083). Positive surgical margin was not a strong predictor of recurrence (P = .72). A critical analysis of minimal surgical margin based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans also failed to reveal an association between margin and local recurrence. In multivariate analysis, the 2 independent predictors of local recurrence were histological response to chemotherapy and central site of disease. CONCLUSION: Local recurrence after surgical resection is a complex phenomenon. An important predictive factor is the response to chemotherapy. In the current study, this seems to have the largest impact. Central site of disease may be a second independent predictive factor.

Adolescent↗

Periosteal margin in soft-tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Soft-tissue sarcomas frequently rest in contact with bone. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the risk of local recurrence for sarcomas adjacent to bone and to determine whether the periosteum provides an adequate margin of resection. METHODS: Fifty patients with soft-tissue sarcomas abutting bone were treated at a single institution between 1990 and 2004. All patients had high-grade, T2 (>5 cm), nonmetastatic disease in the lower extremity. Bone contact was verified by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or computed tomography (CT) scans. Forty-three of 50 patients received preoperative radiation with a mean dose of 50 Gy. In 11 cases a composite resection of bone and soft tissue was performed. In 39 cases the excision involved only soft tissue. RESULTS: True bone invasion was verified by histopathologic examination in 3 of 50 cases (6%). Local recurrence in the soft tissues developed in 8 of 50 (16%) patients. In no case did the recurrence involve destruction of cortical bone or erosion into bone. The recurrent tumor resided against the region of previous bone contact in 1 of 8 cases. There was no statistically significant difference in local recurrence between patients who had composite bone resection and patients who had soft-tissue resection only (P = .87). CONCLUSIONS: Relatively few sarcomas are able to penetrate cortical bone. Composite bone and soft-tissue resections are indicated primarily for frank bone invasion. In the absence of this, the periosteum is an adequate surgical margin for sarcomas treated with wide excision and radiation.

Adolescent↗

Management of locally recurrent soft-tissue sarcoma after prior surgery and radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate outcome and treatment toxicity after wide local re-excision (WLE), with or without additional radiation therapy, for patients with isolated first local recurrence of soft-tissue sarcoma arising within a previously irradiated field. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 62 consecutive patients. All patients underwent prior resection and external beam radiation. For recurrent disease, 25 patients were treated with WLE alone, and 37 patients were treated with WLE and additional radiation (45- 64 Gy). In 33 patients, the radiation was delivered via an afterloaded brachytherapy, single-plane implant. RESULTS: The 5-year disease specific and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 65% and 73%, respectively. Local control (LC) at 5 years was 51%, and on multivariate analysis, a positive surgical resection margin (p< 0.001) was associated with a lower rate of LC. Reirradiation was not associated with improved LC; however complications requiring outpatient or surgical management were more common in patients who had undergone reirradiation (80% vs. 17%, p < 0.001). Amputation was also more common in the subgroup of patients who underwent extremity reirradiation (35% with radiation vs. 11% without, p = 0.05), although only one amputation was performed to resolve a treatment complication. CONCLUSION: Conservative surgery alone results in LC in a minority of patients who have failed locally after previous excision and external beam radiation. Although selection biases and small patient numbers confound the analysis, local treatment intensification with additional radiation does not clearly improve outcome after surgical excision alone, and is associated with an increase in complications.

Aged↗

Argon beam coagulation as an adjuvant for local control of giant cell tumor.

The argon beam coagulator is gaining popularity as an adjuvant therapy for treatment of giant cell tumors of bone. However, the effectiveness and functional implications of this treatment have not been assessed. To determine whether the argon beam coagulator could be a viable adjuvant treatment option, we examined the recurrence rate and functional outcome of patients with giant cell tumors who were treated with the argon beam coagulator, as an adjuvant to curettage and cementation. Thirty-seven patients who received argon beam coagulation as an adjuvant treatment for giant cell tumors diagnosed between 1993 and 2000 were identified. The median age of the patients was 32 years (range, 16-64 years). The mean followup was 73.7 months (range, 0.5-108 months). Three patients had osseous recurrences (8.3%) and one had a soft tissue recurrence. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier disease-free survival estimate was 87.2% (95% confidence interval, range, 76.3-99.8). No patient had radiographic evidence of arthritis. The average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 28. Short form-36 evaluation showed no change in functional or mental perception in these patients compared with US norms. These data suggest argon beam coagulation as an adjuvant therapy is associated with in a low rate of local recurrence and is a reasonable adjuvant treatment option.

Adolescent↗

Acetabular outcome after hip hemiarthroplasty in patients with tumors.

Hip hemiarthroplasty is performed routinely on patients with tumors of the proximal femur, although the long-term effect on the native acetabulum is unknown. We measured the amount of femoral head migration that would occur with intermediate and long-term followup. We also measured the amount of groin pain experienced by patients with longer followup and the overall rate of conversion to total hip arthroplasty. From a surgical database, we identified 442 patients with tumors who had 447 hip hemiarthroplasties without or with an allograft composite. We reviewed the medical records and radiographs of 32 patients with at least 5 years followup (median followup, 10 years) to determine their clinical and radiographic outcomes. The median proximal and medial migration measurements were 3 mm (range, 0-24 mm) and 2 mm (range 0-20 mm), respectively. Thirty-one patients had minimal or no groin pain. Seven of the 447 arthroplasties (1.6%) were converted to total hip arthroplasties. Even patients with long-term followup usually had minimal pain and radiographic changes. The overall rate of conversion to total hip arthroplasty was low. Concern regarding excessive acetabular wear resulting in conversion to total hip arthroplasty in patients with tumors is not supported by our data.

Acetabulum↗

Complications of combined modality treatment of primary lower extremity soft-tissue sarcomas.

BACKGROUND: Correlations between various patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics and complications in patients undergoing combined modality treatment for primary lower extremity soft-tissue sarcomas were investigated. METHODS: Using the M. D. Anderson Radiation Oncology database, the records of the subset of patients treated with combined radiation and limb-sparing surgery for primary lower extremity soft-tissue sarcomas were retrospectively reviewed from the years 1960 to 2003. RESULTS: In all, 412 patients were identified. With a median follow-up of 9.3 years, there were a total of 113 (27%) acute wound complications and 41 (13% at 20 years) chronic radiation-related limb complications. Preoperative radiation and tumor sizes >5 cm were associated with an increased risk of acute wound complications (34% preoperative vs. 16% postoperative, P < .001; and 31% >5 cm vs. 17% < or =5 cm, P = .005). At 20 years the radiation-related complication rate was higher in patients with a groin or thigh tumor location (16% vs. 4% other; P = .008), prior acute wound complications (20% vs. 10% no surgical complication), and a radiation dose > or =60 grays (Gy) (18% vs. 9% for dose < 60 Gy; P = .04). Five fractures occurred, resulting in a crude overall fracture rate of 1.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with preoperative radiation for larger tumors are more likely to have acute surgical wound complications. Acute wound complications followed by postoperative radiation are associated with chronic radiation-related limb problems, as are higher radiation dose and proximal tumor location. The fracture rate is so low that prophylactic fixation is not warranted.

Adolescent↗

The effect of preoperative radiotherapy and reconstructive surgery on wound complications after resection of extremity soft-tissue sarcomas.

BACKGROUND: Major wound complications (MWCs) are frequent after preoperative radiotherapy (RT) for extremity soft-tissue sarcoma (STS). We examined the rate of MWCs at a single institution with readily available reconstructive surgery. METHODS: The medical records of consecutively treated extremity STS patients treated with preoperative external-beam RT and surgical resection from June 1996 through February 2003 were reviewed. Patients underwent RT (median 50 Gy), followed by resection 4-8 weeks later. Patients believed to be at higher risk for MWC underwent wound closure by the reconstructive surgery service (RSS). MWCs included secondary operation, invasive procedure, hospital readmission, or persistent deep packing or dressing changes. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients underwent preoperative RT. Median age was 54 years; 51% were female; 80% had lower extremity STS. Wound closure was performed by the primary surgeon in 91 cases (53%). The RSS performed wound closure in the remaining 82 patients (47%). One or more MWCs occurred in 55 patients (32%). Wound complications were more likely in patients with lower extremity (49/138, 36%) than upper extremity (6/35, 17%) STS (P = 0.03). Among patients with lower-risk wounds closed by the primary surgical team, 29 (32%) experienced MWC, whereas in the higher-risk patients closed by the RSS, MWC occurred in 26 (32%). CONCLUSIONS: MWCs are frequent after preoperative RT and occur more commonly in patients with lower extremity tumors. The MWC rate observed in a single-institution setting was comparable to that observed in the preoperative therapy arm of a multicenter Canadian trial. Patients believed to be at higher risk for MWCs undergoing RSS closure have MWC rates comparable to those with lower-risk wounds closed by the primary team.

Adolescent↗

Endoprosthetic and allograft-prosthetic composite reconstruction of the proximal femur for bone neoplasms.

UNLABELLED: Reconstruction of the proximal femur after tumor resection can be achieved with either an endoprosthesis or an allograft-prosthetic composite. We compared the two modalities for complications, functional outcome, and construct survival. We retrospectively analyzed 52 patients with endoprostheses and 20 with allograft-prosthetic composite reconstructions between 1974 and 2002. Median followup was 146 months and 76 months, respectively. Both methods were associated with low rates of early complications. Infections occurred in two patients with endoprostheses and one patient with an allograft-prosthetic composite reconstruction. Aseptic loosening was the most common (10%) late complication for patients with endoprostheses. Nonunion was the most common (10%) complication for patients with allograft prosthetic composite reconstructions. All host-allograft junctions eventually healed after bone-grafting. The Musculo skeletal Tumor Society scores were similar for patients with endoprostheses (70%) and allograft-prosthetic composites (82%). The median hip abductor strength was greater for patients with allograft-prosthetic composite reconstructions (4.6 of 5) than for patients with endoprostheses (2.8 of 5). Kaplan-Meier survivorship of the implant was 86% for both groups at 10 years. The consistent restoration of abductor muscle strength combined with the low morbidity and high durability support the use of allograft-prosthetic composite reconstruction in patients with long life expectancy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series--no, or historical control group). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Adolescent↗

Outcome of postradiation osteosarcoma does not correlate with chemotherapy response.

UNLABELLED: Postradiation osteosarcoma is a rare tumor with a historically poor prognosis. Recent reports concerning the prognosis of the disease have been conflicting. We ascertained the long-term outcome of patients with this disease treated in the era of contemporary chemotherapy. Twenty-seven patients diagnosed with postradiation osteosarcoma and treated with chemotherapy and surgical resection from 1980-2003 were identified. Demographics, anatomic location, stage, chemo- therapy, necrosis rate, recurrence and metastatic rates were recorded; Kaplan-Meier survival rates were estimated. The median age was 54 years (range, 12-86 years). Nineteen patients were female and eight patients were male. Median followup was 39.2 months (range, 0-218 months). Twenty-two patients received induction chemotherapy for a mean of four cycles (range, 2-6 cycles). Mean tumor necrosis was 63.5%. Seven patients had 90% necrosis; four of these patients died of their disease. The mean survival was 23 months, and the 5-year disease free survival estimate was 27.2%. Histologic response to chemotherapy did not correlate with survival. Patients who had a latency of greater than 10 years after radiation had a better prognosis. Unlike conventional osteosarcoma, response to chemotherapy (necrosis) did not have prognostic significance. Current chemotherapy regimens fail to impact survival in postradiation osteosarcoma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level IV (retrospective comparative study).

Adolescent↗

Chondrosarcoma of the scapula: long-term oncologic outcome.

BACKGROUND: Chondrosarcoma is the second most common primary sarcoma of bone. It often develops within flat bones, such as the pelvis, ribs, and scapula. In the current study, the authors reviewed the surgical experience and long-term oncologic outcomes of patients with chondrosarcoma arising in the scapula. METHODS: The medical records of 29 consecutive patients with chondrosarcoma of the scapula were reviewed. The patients were treated between 1954 and 1994. All patients had localized disease at the time of presentation. The tumors were classified histologically as Grade 1 (10 patients), Grade 2 (10 patients), Grade 3 (7 patients), dedifferentiated (1 patient), and mesenchymal (1 patient) (using the criteria of Evans et al.). The mean maximal dimension of the tumors was 11 cm. Twenty-five patients underwent limb-sparing surgical resection and 4 patients underwent forequarter amputations. The median follow-up was 13 years (range, 1-35 years). RESULTS: At last follow-up, 22 patients (76%) were free of disease and 7 patients (24%) had died of their disease. Local recurrence occurred in 4 patients at 7 months, 16 months, 40 months, and 43 months, respectively. The local recurrence-free survival rate was 86% at 5 years, 10 years, and 20 years. Disease-specific survival was 83% at 5 years, 74% at 10 years, and 74% at 20 years. Patients who had low-grade chondrosarcomas had better survival compared with patients who had high-grade chondrosarcomas (P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who had localized chondrosarcoma of the scapula had a favorable long-term outcome, most likely due to the unique anatomic features that improved the likelihood of achieving wide surgical margins with limb-sparing surgery, despite the frequent presentation of locally advanced disease.

Adolescent↗

Ewing's sarcoma of the mobile spine.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis was performed. OBJECTIVES: To determine the oncological outcome of patients with nonmetastatic Ewing's sarcoma of the mobile spine treated with systemic multiagent chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy for definitive local control. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: To our knowledge, there are no studies that evaluate the oncological outcome of patients with nonmetastatic Ewing's sarcoma of the mobile spine treated with systemic chemotherapy and radiation therapy for definitive local control. METHODS: Thirteen patients with nonmetastatic Ewing's sarcoma of the mobile spine were treated with high-dose multiagent chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy for definitive local control from 1971 to 2000 at a single institution. Patients were observed for a minimum of 2 years or until death. Neurological function, local recurrence, distant relapse, and treatment-related complications were evaluated. RESULTS: There were 8 females and 5 males with a mean age of 19 years (ranging from 7-26 years). The mean follow-up time was 65 months (median 28 months; ranging from 2 to 218 months). All patients presented with pain. Motor deficits were present in 6 patients. Ten patients had a decompressive laminectomy. Improved pain control, as determined by narcotic use, was noted in 12 (92%) patients. Ten patients maintained or improved motor function by at least 1 Frankel grade, while 3 had deterioration of motor function. The disease-free survival rate was 49% and 36% at 5 and 10 years. Five (38%) patients were free of disease at last follow-up. Seven patients developed metastatic disease. Three (23%) patients developed a local recurrence. One of these patients had paraplegia associated with the local recurrence. Five patients developed 8 treatment-related complications. Four of the 10 (40%) patients that had a laminectomy developed progressive kyphosis. Two of these patients also developed late-onset cauda equina syndrome along with the deformity. One of these patients also developed cardiomyopathy associated with adriamycin cardiotoxicity. One patient developed a nonhealing pressure ulcerover a prominent spinous process. CONCLUSIONS: The current study provides historical data on a relatively homogeneous group of patients withEwing's sarcoma of the mobile spine treated with multiagent chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy for definitive local control. Systemic chemotherapy combined with current spinal resection and reconstruction techniques may lead to improved oncological and clinical outcomes.

Adolescent↗

Limb salvage in the skeletally immature patient.

The most common tumors of bone, osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, commonly occur in the skeletally immature patient. Historically, amputation was the procedure of choice; however, improved oncologic outcome and technical advances in limb salvage surgery have made limb salvage therapy a feasible and valuable treatment option. Nevertheless, depending on the extent of the lesion within the long bone, it may be difficult to spare the physis, and hence, in the skeletally immature patient, resection of a sarcoma of bone can create a limb-length discrepancy and gait abnormalities. This article reviews the limb salvage options available for the skeletally immature patient who requires reconstruction of a segmental long bone defect.

Amputation, Surgical↗

Treatment and prognosis of chondroblastoma.

UNLABELLED: Chondroblastoma is an aggressive tumor of bone with the capacity for recurrence and metastasis. We sought to determine the prognostic factors that affect survival and local recurrence with particular emphasis on surgical technique and the anatomic constraints of the open physis. It was hypothesized that an open growth plate would impact the local recurrence rate negatively and be a primary determinant of treatment outcome. We retrospectively reviewed 82 consecutive patients treated at one institution. Intralesional treatment with meticulous curettage and bone graft resulted in local control in the majority of patients. Four local recurrences developed between 5 and 51 months. An open growth plate was not found to correlate with local recurrence. In most cases, the open physis did not considerably impact surgical technique. Although the median age of the patients was 16 years, the majority of patients had a closed or closing physis. Few patients had substantial growth remaining. A physeal-sparing operation was done in six patients, and no local recurrences were observed in this group. The factors that seemed to affect local recurrence included inadequate surgery and biologic aggressiveness of the tumor. Inadequate surgery was likely to be the cause of local recurrence in patients who presented after previous treatment elsewhere. Three patients who developed local recurrence manifested increased biologic aggressiveness of disease. These patients subsequently developed metastatic disease and malignant transformation of disease. All three patients died from their disease. Pelvic tumors tend to be biologically more aggressive and more apt to recur locally and metastasize to distant locations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Study, Level IV (case series). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Adolescent↗

Impact severity of local recurrence in giant cell tumor of bone.

UNLABELLED: We retrospectively reviewed 183 consecutive patients diagnosed with giant cell tumor at the three most common sites (distal femur, proximal tibia, and distal radius) to determine the pattern of local tumor recurrence and the impact severity of the recurrence on adjacent joint function. The primary tumor was treated in all patients with intralesional excision of tumor by curettage. Forty-five patients developed locally recurrent disease. Twenty-three of the patients had their first surgery at our institution, and 22 had been referred from other institutions after the development of local recurrence. The intrainstitutional recurrences were salvaged by a repeat curettage (n = 12) or en bloc osteoarticular resection (n = 10) for bone recurrences and wide local excision for soft tissue recurrence (n = 1). The prereferral recurrences were salvaged by a repeat curettage (n = 7) and en bloc osteoarticular resection (n = 15) for bone recurrences. Incomplete initial surgery, a delay in diagnosis of the recurrence of greater than 6 months, and subchondral recurrence of tumor were contributing factors in the failure to salvage the joint. Despite its benign histology, giant cell tumor of bone is an aggressive tumor that demands meticulous attention to surgical detail and close postoperative surveillance for successful local tumor control and durable, joint-preserving function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, Level III-2 (retrospective cohort study). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Adolescent↗

Favorable long-term results of prosthetic arthroplasty of the knee for distal femur neoplasms.

UNLABELLED: We evaluated implant survival, late complications prompting reoperation and functional outcome in long-term (> 5 years) survivors of bone neoplasms of the distal femur treated with osteoarticular resection and segmental rotating hinge total knee arthroplasty. We retrospectively reviewed 83 patients who survived more than 5 years after the first procedure. Seventy-four of the 83 patients have retained a mobile knee joint. At a median followup of 146 months (range, 62-252 months), 22 patients required 26 additional procedures for a prosthesis-specific event (n = 24) or tumor recurrence (n = 2) after reaching 5-year followup. Aseptic loosening (n = 7) and component breakage (n = 2) occurred between 5 and 10 years. Polyethylene wear (n = 12) occurred only after 10 years. One late tumor recurrence at 62 months prompted amputation. All other patients retained a mobile knee joint. Functional outcome was excellent with a median Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score of 88% and a median Toronto Extremity Severity Scale score of 94%. Patients with bone neoplasms who survive more than 5 years after limb salvage with a segmental rotating hinge total knee arthroplasty can expect to retain a mobile knee joint and function consistently at a high level. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, Level III-2 (retrospective cohort study). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Adolescent↗

Beyond bone grafting: techniques in the surgical management of benign bone tumors.

The traditional surgical treatment of benign bone tumors has been curettage and autologous bone graft or marginal resection of expendable bones. These procedures are associated with good results in most patients and should be considered the standard against which newer treatments are compared. Recently, however, surgeons have been evaluating the results of treatments using limited surgical approaches, including percutaneous treatments, alternatives to autograft bone, and thermal or cytotoxic adjuvant therapies. The goal has been to improve patient outcomes by decreasing perioperative morbidity and enhancing surgical efficiency. This process has been facilitated by the availability of multiple bone grafting materials and substitutes, the use of cross-sectional imaging, and technology such as that used with radiofrequency ablation. Techniques using these therapies in two benign bone tumor models are described. The use of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, now used for both benign and malignant disease, is reviewed as a surgical alternative for osteoid osteoma. The role of adjuvant therapies such as liquid nitrogen and phenol, as well as the indications for resection, are described in the management of giant cell tumors of bone.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Phase I trial of preoperative doxorubicin-based concurrent chemoradiation and surgical resection for localized extremity and body wall soft tissue sarcomas.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this phase I trial was to define the maximum-tolerated dose of continuous-infusion doxorubicin administered with standard preoperative radiation for patients with localized, potentially resectable soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities or body wall. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with radiographically resectable intermediate- or high-grade soft tissue sarcomas were treated. Preoperative external-beam radiation was administered in 25 2-Gy fractions (total dose, 50 Gy). Concurrent continuous-infusion doxorubicin was administered by an initial bolus (4 mg/m(2)) and subsequent 4-day continuous infusion (12.5, 15.0, 17.5, or 20.0 mg/m(2)/wk). Radiographic restaging was performed 4 to 7 weeks after chemoradiation, and patients with localized disease underwent surgical resection. RESULTS: Chemoradiation was completed as an outpatient procedure in 25 patients (93%). The maximum-tolerated dose of continuous-infusion doxorubicin combined with standard preoperative radiation was 17.5 mg/m(2)/wk; at this dose level, seven (30%) of 23 patients had grade 3 dermatologic toxicity. Macroscopically complete resection (R0 or R1) was performed in all 26 patients who underwent surgery. Among 22 patients who were treated with doxorubicin 17.5/mg/m(2)/wk with concurrent radiation and subsequent surgery, 11 patients (50%) had 90% or greater tumor necrosis, including two patients who had complete pathologic responses. CONCLUSION: Preoperative doxorubicin-based chemoradiation appears safe and feasible. The maximum-tolerated dose of continuous-infusion doxorubicin with standard preoperative radiation was 17.5 mg/m(2)/wk. Pathologic response rates with this regimen are encouraging.

Adolescent↗

A phase II study of cisplatin, doxorubicin, and ifosfamide with peripheral blood stem cell support in patients with skeletal osteosarcoma and variant bone tumors with a poor prognosis.

BACKGROUND: The authors evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin, ifosfamide, and doxorubicin with peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) support in adult patients with osteosarcomas and variants with a poor prognosis. METHODS: Between December 1994 and January 2001, 37 patients (20 males and 17 females) with a median age of 38 years (range, 18-63 years) entered the study. Ten patients had pelvic osteosarcomas (OS), 6 had malignant fibrous histiocytomas, 5 had metastatic OS, and 16 had miscellaneous histologies. The authors used doxorubicin (60-75 mg/m(2)) and ifosfamide (10 g/m(2)) followed by granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (5 microg/kg twice per day) for mobilization of PBSC, collected at a median of 12 days (range, 10-14 days). Three cycles with cisplatin (120 mg/m(2)), ifosfamide (10 g/m(2)), and doxorubicin (75 mg/m(2)), given 28 days apart, were planned followed by PBSC (2-4 x 10(6) CD34-positive cells/kg) infusion plus G-CSF. RESULTS: Patients received a median of three cycles (range, one to three cycles) in addition to the mobilizing cycle. The median PBSC collection was 17.5 x 10(6)/kg (range, 13.2-90.8 x 10(6)/kg) with a median of 1 apheresis (range, 1-2 aphereses). Twenty-eight patients underwent surgery, 10 achieved 95-100% necrosis, and 4 achieved 90-94% necrosis. Six patients required early discontinuation of therapy due to toxicities, two patients developed progressive disease, and one patient was deemed unresectable. The median time to progression (TTP) and overall survival by Kaplan-Meier estimates for all 37 patients was 19 months and 49 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The authors accomplished the objective of improving the rate of necrosis with intensification of preoperative therapy. However, TTP and survival rates remained poor. The toxicity profile of this regimen is prohibitive and alternative strategies need to be investigated.

Adolescent↗