New targets and approaches in osteosarcoma

Bioenergetic properties of human sarcoma cells help define sensitivity to metabolic inhibitors

“…[3][4][5] Osteosarcoma is the most common primary tumor of bone and mainly affects adolescents and young adults. 6,7 Osteosarcoma is the eighth most common malignancy of childhood, with approximately 400 new cases diagnosed in children and young adults in Sarcomas represent a diverse group of malignancies with distinct molecular and pathological features. A better understanding of the alterations associated with specific sarcoma subtypes is critically important to improve sarcoma treatment.…”

“…7 Like other sarcomas, osteosarcoma tumors are molecularly diverse. 6 Despite treatment protocols that combine chemotherapy, surgery, and sometimes radiotherapy, the 5-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma is 60-70%.…”

“…6,8 The long-term survival rate for patients with metastatic disease detectable at presentation is 30-35%. 7 Current treatments for osteosarcoma are associated with significant morbidity, and there have been no significant improvements in prognosis in the last 2 decades, hence there is a significant need for improved therapies for osteosarcoma. 6,7 Many signaling pathways that are affected by genetic events in cancer, as well as the tumor microenvironment, significantly alter cellular bioenergetics to support growth and survival.…”

“…7 Current treatments for osteosarcoma are associated with significant morbidity, and there have been no significant improvements in prognosis in the last 2 decades, hence there is a significant need for improved therapies for osteosarcoma. 6,7 Many signaling pathways that are affected by genetic events in cancer, as well as the tumor microenvironment, significantly alter cellular bioenergetics to support growth and survival. 9 Cancer cells exhibit a metabolic phenotype known as aerobic glycolysis, or the Warburg effect, which is characterized by increased glycolysis regardless of oxygen availability.…”

CORR Insights®: Survival, Recurrence, and Function After Epiphyseal Preservation and Allograft Reconstruction in Osteosarcoma of the Knee

“…Prospective cooperation of the scientific community should be pursued and implemented in order to define novel treatment approaches for patients with relapsed disease. Emerging strategies are currently focusing on immunomodulation, targeting of the tumor microenvironment, membrane tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors, intracellular signaling inhibitors, antifolates, and targets of genomic instability [11]. As many of these agents will prove ineffective in clinical trials, persistence and dedication are required to aim at a moving target.…”