What is the typical treatment sequence for osteosarcoma as described?

What is the typical treatment sequence for osteosarcoma as described?

• A. Neoadjuvant therapy, surgical resection, adjuvant therapy
• B. Radiation therapy only
• C. Observation only
• D. Immunotherapy followed by surgery

Answer: (A)

Osteosarcoma is treated with a combination of chemotherapy and surgery, used in a specific sequence to maximize both local control and systemic eradication of cancer cells. Starting chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant or preoperative chemotherapy) helps shrink the tumor, makes limb-sparing resection more feasible, and addresses micrometastatic disease that may already be present. After the tumor is surgically removed with clear margins, chemotherapy is continued after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to eliminate any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of relapse. Radiation therapy is not the standard initial approach for osteosarcoma because the tumor is relatively resistant to radiation; it’s usually reserved for special situations such as unresectable disease or palliation. Observation alone would miss systemic disease, and immunotherapy alone followed by surgery is not the typical first-line sequence for this cancer.

Osteosarcoma is treated with a combination of chemotherapy and surgery, used in a specific sequence to maximize both local control and systemic eradication of cancer cells. Starting chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant or preoperative chemotherapy) helps shrink the tumor, makes limb-sparing resection more feasible, and addresses micrometastatic disease that may already be present. After the tumor is surgically removed with clear margins, chemotherapy is continued after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to eliminate any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of relapse.

Radiation therapy is not the standard initial approach for osteosarcoma because the tumor is relatively resistant to radiation; it’s usually reserved for special situations such as unresectable disease or palliation. Observation alone would miss systemic disease, and immunotherapy alone followed by surgery is not the typical first-line sequence for this cancer.