- Chemotherapy Drugs:
- Doxorubicin (Adriamycin): A common chemotherapy drug used for various types of cancer, including osteosarcoma.
- Cisplatin: Often used in combination with other drugs for bone cancer treatment.
- Targeted Therapy Drugs:
- Denosumab (Xgeva): Targets a protein involved in bone destruction and is used to reduce skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases.
- Pamidronate and Zoledronic acid (Bisphosphonates): These drugs can help manage bone pain and reduce the risk of skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases.
- Immunotherapy:
- Nivolumab (Opdivo) and Pembrolizumab (Keytruda): These immune checkpoint inhibitors may be used in certain cases or clinical trials for bone cancer.
- Hormone Therapy:
- Ifosfamide and Etoposide: Sometimes used in combination for the treatment of Ewing sarcoma.
- Methotrexate: Used in some protocols for osteosarcoma.
- Radiopharmaceuticals:
- Samarium (Quadramet) and Strontium (Metastron): Used for pain relief in patients with bone metastases.
Bone cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the cells of the bone. It can develop in any bone in the body, but it most commonly occurs in the long bones of the arms and legs. There are two primary types of bone cancer: primary bone cancer and secondary (metastatic) bone cancer.
The most common types of bone cancer include:
- Osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is the most common form of bone cancer. In this tumor, the cancerous cells produce bone. This variety of bone cancer occurs most often in children and young adults, in the bones of the leg or arm. In rare circumstances, osteosarcomas can arise outside of bones (extraskeletal osteosarcomas).
- Chondrosarcoma. Chondrosarcoma is the second most common form of bone cancer. In this tumor, the cancerous cells produce cartilage. Chondrosarcoma usually occurs in the pelvis, legs or arms in middle-aged and older adults.
- Ewing sarcoma. Ewing sarcoma tumors most commonly arise in the pelvis, legs or arms of children and young adults.
