What is neoadjuvant chemotherapy?

"Neoadjuvant" or "Induction" chemotherapy is chemotherapy given prior to surgical removal of a tumor. By killing all or part of the tumor, it permits a smaller operation and makes a limb-sparing surgery safer (i.e., prevents tumor recurrence). Chemotherapy is usually continued after surgery. This is essential to kill any remaining tumor cells at the surgical site as well as elsewhere in the body. Most bone sarcomas, such as osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcomas, are treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and limb-sparing resection. With this combination, 95% of our patients have been able to successfully undergo limb-sparing surgery and avoid amputation.

What is radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy is the use of carefully calibrated amounts of high-intensity radiation to kill tumor cells. It is usually used after surgical resection of tumors to kill any remaining cells. It is administered by radiation oncologists and given in brief, daily, outpatient treatments over several weeks.