Combination chemotherapy preceding surgery in osteogenic sarcoma.

In 19 unselected subsequently entered non-metastatic patients with a normal osteogenic sarcoma two different just tolerable chemotherapy combinations were applied pre- and postoperatively. The median follow-up time after discontinuation of chemotherapy is 26+ months. Nine patients have failed, all showing pulmonary metastases, six have died despite several heavy salvage regimens. So the disease free survival rate is 53%. Longer follow-up in this group and the European Osteosarcoma Intergroup Study will be needed to clarify the value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in this disease.