Resource-appropriate selection of osteosarcoma treatment protocols in low- and middle-income countries

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2022 Mar;69(3):e29540. doi: 10.1002/pbc.29540. Epub 2021 Dec 31.

Abstract

Osteosarcoma is a rare malignancy; however, it is still the most common primary bone tumor in adolescents and young adults. Chemotherapy improves survival indubitably in osteosarcoma; nevertheless, the concern is the stagnant progress since the last several decades. There are a handful of active agents and unresolved issues, especially in choosing the ideal chemotherapy regimen. The oncology community is in equipoise regarding the position of high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX), mandatory or adjunct. The choice of therapy becomes widely relevant, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where HDMTX administration brings additional complexities. Research into novel non-HDMTX-based protocols adapted to the available resources is pivotal in improving disease outcomes, especially in LMIC. The current review focuses on real-world challenges in decision-making and provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of treatment protocols in LMIC.

Keywords: current management strategies; low- and middle-income countries; non-high-dose methotrexate protocols; osteosarcoma; practical considerations.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Bone Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Developing Countries
  • Humans
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Osteosarcoma* / drug therapy
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Methotrexate