[The investigation of causes of treatment failures of osteosarcoma]

A series of 57 patients (32 females, 25 males) aged 12-41 (mean 17.2) treated due to IIB advanced osteosarcoma has been analyzed. From among 20 patients who underwent surgery only, 2 persons survived. In 10 patients supplementary chemotherapy or preventive lung radiotherapy has been used. Two patients survived more than 5 years. In past 11 years 4 pre and postoperative chemotherapy protocols have been used. Big number of failures has been noted in the first few years. Despite chemotherapy recurrence took place in 6 cases. Failures resulted also from the late diagnosis or discontinued treatment. During last 5 years all 6 osteosarcoma patients received chemotherapy at Hematology and Pediatric Oncology Department and tumor resection has been performed. All patients stay alive (2 to 5 years).