Chondrosarcoma: Biology and Clinical Management

Chondrosarcoma, a rare cancer that develops from cartilage cells, occurs mainly in the bones but can also appear in the soft tissue of the pelvis, hip and shoulder. Unfortunately, these cancers are highly resistant to both chemotherapy and radiation, and no successful adjuvant therapies currently exist. As such, surgical treatment and resection remain the mainstays of management for patients with these tumors. This concise text is a comprehensive presentation of the current knowledge regarding the development, diagnosis and management of chondrosarcomas. Part I discusses pathology, molecular biology and imaging features of chondrosarcomas. The different types of skeletal and extraskeletal tumors are presented in detail in part II, including conventional and secondary tumors. Management approaches are outlined and described in part III - limb salvage surgery is the most common, and although less effective, radiation and chemotherapy are indicated in certain cases. Part IV examines the future of chondrosarcoma management and development of novel adjuvant therapies, as well as the relationship of this disease to similar types (e.g., chordoma). Bringing together the most up-to-date information on this rare cancer, Chondrosarcoma will be a valuable resource for orthopedic oncologists, researchers and all medical professionals treating these challenging tumors.

About the Author

Francis John Hornicek, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor and Chair

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Helga and Walter Oppenheimer Endowed Chair in Orthopaedic Oncology

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Los Angeles, CA