Nancy Gordon, MD, a pediatric oncologist and research assistant at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses toxicities associated with immunotherapy agents for the treatment of patients with osteosarcoma.

In adult patients with osteosarcoma, a sample of them have shown minimal signs of pneumonitis, Gordon explains. This is because there is a type of cytokine release syndrome that can cause that, she adds. Moreover, some patients have reported fatigue, as well as diarrhea. However, aside from the associated toxicities, this therapy has shown durable and long-lasting responses in patients with melanoma and non—small cell lung cancer.

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Dr. Gordon on Toxicities With Immunotherapy in Osteosarcoma

Nancy B. Gordon, MD, assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Center, discusses next steps for immunotherapy research in the field of osteosarcoma.

The next steps of this research, Gordon explains, will be to actually translate it to patients. One of the major things that researchers had to take into account, particularly in children, is that checkpoint inhibitors had to pass phase I studies in adults for then to be able to be implemented in children.

Immunotherapy will work most effectively for patients with minimal residual disease, she adds. Moreover, there have been other studies investigating not only checkpoint inhibitors alone, but also in combination with chemotherapy and other agents.

Next steps will also involve the best approach to create a clinical trial to allow pediatric patients to receive immunotherapy and what the benefit will be. However, it will be most effective in patients with relapsed disease where there is only minimal disease.

Dr. Gordon on Next Steps With Immunotherapy Research in Osteosarcoma

Nancy B. Gordon, MD, assistant professor, department of pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Center, discusses immunotherapy treatments for osteosarcoma.

Pulmonary metastases are one of the main causes of death for patients with osteosarcoma, Gordon explains. Immunotherapy for osteosarcoma has shown benefits in different aspects. There has been treatment that has been delivered through cytokines, such as interleukin-2, that has particularly been effective.

If you give a patient an antibody against PD-1, a patient can see a therapeutic benefit in osteosarcoma, Gordon states.

Nancy B. Gordon, MD

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