Local host response in osteosarcoma after chemotherapy referred to radiographs, CT, tumour necrosis and patient survival.

PURPOSE

The necrotic effect of chemotherapy on primary osteosarcoma has been shown to be predictive of the final outcome. Little attention has been paid to the local response of the host (LHR), which reflects the tumour-host relationship.

DESIGN

A four-step grading system was developed based on distinct histological patterns of the LHR around the lesion. These responses were correlated with the chemotherapy-induced necrosis or chemosensitivity and analysed in an attempt to ascertain their influence on the patient prognosis. The ability of conventional radiographs and computed tomography to measure LHR was studied.

METHODS

The grading system was applied to macroslides of specimens obtained from 72 patients with stage II B primary osteosarcoma in various limbs after wide resection and complete courses of pre- and postoperative chemotherapy who were treated between 1985 and 1991 with a median follow-up of 5 years and 9 months. The histological specimens were blindly reviewed by two pathologists and two experienced musculoskeletal oncologists to assign a grade of response. The results were correlated with tumour necrosis, patient survival and response features on conventional radiographs and CT images.

RESULTS

Significant correlation was found between LHR and tumour necrosis or chemosensitivity (r=0.55) and between LHR and CT response (r=0.56). There was no correlation between LHR and the findings on conventional radiographs. A grade 4 LHR was predictive of long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The LHR to preoperative chemotherapy has a prognostic influence on patient survival and can be predicted by CT.