Chemotherapy in the treatment of osteogenic sarcoma of the maxilla (case report)

A case of osteogenic sarcoma of the maxilla is described. The tumor was excised by a hemimaxillectomy but recurred in 3 months. The patient died 8 months after the initial onset of symptoms. Chemotherapy and radiation were ineffective with the exception of bleomycin, which caused necrosis of the tumour, with no apparent increase in growth, and a decrease of the serum alkaline phosphatase level to less than half of the maximum value. There was a close correlation between the fluctuating pattern of the serum alkaline phosphatase level and the growth and remission of the tumour during the entire course of treatment.