Neoadjuvant chemotherapy-induced hemoglobin decline as a prognostic factor in osteosarcoma around the knee joint: a...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Hematology

Background:

• Anemia is prevalent in cancer patients, often linked to poorer survival outcomes.
• Evidence regarding anemia's impact on osteosarcoma prognosis and chemotherapy response is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prognostic value of hemoglobin (Hb) levels and changes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in osteosarcoma (OS).
• To assess the association between Hb decline and disease-free survival (DFS) and tumor response to NAC in OS patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 242 stage II osteosarcoma patients treated with NAC.
• Recorded Hb levels before and after NAC to evaluate prognostic significance.
• Utilized univariate and multivariate analyses to identify prognostic factors for patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• Mean Hb levels significantly decreased post-NAC (134.5 g/L to 117.4 g/L).
• Anemia prevalence increased post-NAC, with mild anemia rising to 41% and moderate to 24%.
• A decline of ≥5% in Hb after NAC was associated with a lower tumor necrosis rate (<90%) and inferior DFS.

Conclusions:

• Greater Hb decrease during neoadjuvant treatment correlates with worse DFS and poorer NAC response in osteosarcoma.
• Further research is warranted to explore anemia correction strategies and their impact on osteosarcoma patient outcomes.