[Adjuvant chemotherapy of osteosarcoma]

Osteosarcoma is the one of the tumors that's prognosis have been improved dramatically by the introduction of chemotherapy consisting mainly of adriamycin, high-dose methotrexate with Leucovorin rescue and cisplatinum. Now, the purpose of the treatment for osteosarcoma are assurance of their life and functional and beautiful limb-sparing. Recently, preoperative chemotherapy for limb saving is given to patients with osteosarcoma of the extremities. The five year survival rate increased to 65% and limb sparing rate became above 50%. It is generally accepted that pre- and post-operative chemotherapy can inhibit pulmonary micro metastasis and prove to be of great significance in improving the survival rate of patients with osteosarcoma of extremities and achieve limb salvage operation.