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Published on: March 18, 2014
Gemcitabine for the treatment of patients with osteosarcoma
Mei-Yang Wei1, Yan-Feng Zhuang, Wan-Ming Wang
1Department of Orthopaedics, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
Background:
Patients with recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma are considered to have a very poor prognosis, and new regimens are needed to improve the prognosis in this setting. Gemcitabine, a nucleoside antimetabolite, is an analog of deoxycytidine which mainly inhibits DNA synthesis through interfering with DNA chain elongation and depleting deoxynucleotide stores, resulting in gemcitabine-induced cell death. Here we performed a systemic analysis to evaluate gemcitabine based chemotherapy as salvage treatment for patients with recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma.
Methods:
Clinical studies evaluating the impact of gemcitabine based regimens on response and safety for patients with osteosarcoma were identified by using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rates (RRs) of treatment were calculated.
Results:
In gemcitabine based regimens, 4 clinical studies which included 66 patients with recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma were considered eligible for inclusion. Systemic analysis suggested that, in all patients, pooled RR was 12.1% (8/66) in gemcitabine based regimens. Major adverse effects were hematologic toxicity, including grade 3 or 4 anemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia in gemcitabine based treatment. No treatment related death occurred in gemcitabine based treatment.
Conclusion:
This systemic analysis suggests that gemcitabine based regimens are associated with mild activity with good tolerability in treating patients with recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma.
Insights
Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy shows mild activity in treating recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma. This salvage treatment demonstrated a 12.1% response rate with manageable side effects in patients with poor prognoses.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Osteosarcoma recurrence or refractoriness indicates a poor prognosis.
- Novel therapeutic strategies are crucial for improving outcomes.
- Gemcitabine, a nucleoside antimetabolite, inhibits DNA synthesis, leading to cell death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate gemcitabine-based chemotherapy as a salvage treatment for osteosarcoma.
- To assess the response rates and safety profile of gemcitabine regimens in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- A systematic analysis of clinical studies was conducted.
- Studies evaluated gemcitabine-based regimens for response and safety in osteosarcoma patients.
- Pooled response rates (RRs) were calculated.
Main Results:
- Four eligible studies included 66 patients with recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma.
- The pooled response rate for gemcitabine-based regimens was 12.1% (8/66).
- Major adverse effects included hematologic toxicities (anemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia); no treatment-related deaths occurred.
Conclusions:
- Gemcitabine-based regimens exhibit mild activity in treating recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma.
- The treatment is generally well-tolerated, with manageable side effects.
- Gemcitabine offers a potential salvage option for patients with limited therapeutic choices.
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