Systematic chemotherapy in the treatment of osteosarcoma

Since 1975, 58 patients with osteosarcoma were treated with preoperative fast neutron or photon radiotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy. The effect of fast neutron therapy on tumor cells was five times higher than that of photon therapy. Regarding the dose of neutron beams, a time-dose-fractionation value of 80 was suitable, taking skin damage into consideration. Histologically, osseous type or tumors 10 cm or less in longitudinal diameter and stage II B-(1) or (2) was most sensitive to neutron beams. Limb salvage was possible in 31 patients. None of these patients experienced local-recurrence. An overall five-year survival rate was 65 % for 51 patients treated with curative intention. (Namekawa, K.)