Osteosarcoma is a very common bone malignancy, which grows rapidly and causes great pain to patients. Primary osteosarcomas generally occur on the long bones of the limbs, while secondary osteosarcomas are more common in the pelvis, spine, and femur areas of the body. The most obvious sensation in people with osteosarcoma is pain, which is fixed, persistent, and progressively worse, worsening at night. Not only that, osteosarcoma is also prone to lung metastasis, which is currently the main cause of death from osteosarcoma. Below we will answer a few questions about the characteristics and treatment of metastatic osteosarcoma.
Why does osteosarcoma metastasize?
The exact cause of osteosarcoma metastasis is not yet clear. However, clinical observations have found that the metastasis of osteosarcoma is related to the level of osteosarcoma (Enneking staging), and the higher the level, the more likely it is to metastasize, and radiation may also cause metastasis of osteosarcoma.
Which organs throughout the body is there likely to metastasize osteosarcoma?
The lungs are hot organs for osteosarcoma metastasis, and other organs, such as distal bone tissue, have also been found in the liver, but the chance is small.
What are the symptoms of osteosarcoma metastasis?
Since the metastasis site of osteosarcoma is the lung, patients with osteosarcoma metastasis generally present with symptoms of the lungs, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, chronic cough, wheezing, hoarseness, etc. Of course, for patients with distal bone metastases, arthralgia, bone pain, etc. may also occur.
Can metastatic osteosarcoma be treated?
Metastatic osteosarcoma is clinically advanced. Metastatic osteosarcoma has a lower cure rate than non-metastatic osteosarcoma, but it is not completely incurable. For now, if the metastasized tumor tissue can be completely surgically removed and combined with other adjuvant therapies, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, etc., there is still hope that it can be cured. Are there any examples of treatment in our hospitals?
With the development of modern medical technology, many new tumor treatment technologies, such as immunotherapy (CAR T), oncolytic virus (T-VEC), etc., are joining the forefront of the treatment of metastatic tumors. However, these methods have not yet been approved for the treatment of metastatic osteosarcoma and are being widely verified clinically. It is believed that in the near future, the arrival of these new technologies will further improve the current treatment status and bring good news to the majority of osteosarcoma metastasis patients.
How to prevent metastasis of osteosarcoma?
Since the exact mechanism of osteosarcoma metastasis is not currently known, there are no targeted measures. However, regular screening of patients with osteosarcoma allows for early detection of metastatic tumors. Since the lungs are a hot spot for osteosarcoma metastasis, patients are advised to have x-rays or CT scans of the lungs every six months after the first osteosarcoma treatment (surgery or chemoradiation). In addition, bone scans can check whether osteosarcoma has spread to other distal bones. If the patient develops bone pain, a bone scan is recommended.