Metastatic disease is cancer that has spread from the place in which it started to other parts of the body. When the cancer has spread to the lungs, the prognosis is better if the cancer is in only one lung and in fewer places in the lung. For cancer that has spread to the bone, prognosis is better if the tumors are all in the same bone.

Osteosarcoma

Treatment of osteosarcoma with metastasis may be one of the following:

• Chemotherapy followed by surgery to remove the cancer followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.



• Surgery to remove the cancer followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.



• A clinical trial of chemotherapy with or without biologic therapy.

Surgery often includes removal of cancer that has spread to the lungs.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone

Treatment of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone with metastasis is the same as for osteosarcoma with metastasis.

Multifocal osteosarcoma

Treatment of multifocal osteosarcoma includes chemotherapy and surgery.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with metastatic osteosarcoma ¹ and metastatic childhood malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone ².

Glossary Terms

Treatment given after the primary treatment to increase the chances of a cure. Adjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or biological therapy.

Treatment to boost or restore the ability of the immune system to fight cancer, infections, and other diseases. Also used to lessen certain side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Agents used in biological therapy include monoclonal antibodies, growth factors, and vaccines. These agents may also have a direct antitumor effect. Also called immunotherapy, biotherapy, biological response modifier therapy, and BRM therapy.

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called a clinical study.

One of a pair of organs in the chest that supplies the body with oxygen, and removes carbon dioxide from the body.

A soft tissue sarcoma that usually occurs in the limbs, most commonly the legs, and may also occur in the abdomen. Also called malignant fibrous cytoma.

The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. A tumor formed by cells that have spread is called a “metastatic tumor” or a “metastasis.” The metastatic tumor contains cells that are like those in the original (primary) tumor. The plural form of metastasis is metastases (meh-TAS-tuh-SEEZ).

Cancer that has spread from the place in which it started to other parts of the body.

A cancer of the bone that usually affects the large bones of the arm or leg. It occurs most commonly in young people and affects more males than females. Also called osteogenic sarcoma.

The likely outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery or recurrence.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called neoplasm.