Combined radiosensitizer infusion and irradiation of osteogenic sarcomas

Three children with osteogenic sarcomas which were either unresectable or whose parents refused permission to amputate were treated with combined intra-arterial 5'bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) infusion and high-dose-per-fraction megavoltage irradiation to the primary site. Pulsed, 48-hour BUdR infusions were performed prior to each 600-rad radiation therapy fraction, with a total radiation dose to the primary site of 4,200-4,800 rads in five weeks. Local control was obtained in all 3 children. One child is alive two years after treatment, another died with metastatic disease and the third patient who received radiotherapy to the lungs for pulmonary metastases is without evidence of disease one year later.