Final answer:
Osteogenic sarcoma is a type of bone cancer treated with chemotherapy and surgery. Surgery may cure isolated tumors, while chemotherapy like cisplatin is used when complete surgical removal is not possible or insufficient. Bone marrow transplants and targeted pharmaceuticals are being researched to improve outcomes and reduce harm to healthy tissue.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osteogenic sarcoma, also known as osteosarcoma, is a type of cancer that arises from bone-forming mesenchymal cells and primarily affects the extracellular matrix (ECM) of connective tissue. Treatment options generally include chemotherapy, surgery, or a combination of both. Surgery is often the primary treatment for isolated, solid tumors, and aims to completely remove the tumor along with local lymph nodes to potentially cure the cancer or prolong survival.
In cases where surgery alone is insufficient, such as when abnormal bone marrow needs to be replaced, a bone marrow transplant may be required. This procedure necessitates a compatible match from family members or other donors. Chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin, may be used to kill the cancerous cells. However, this treatment can harm healthy tissue as well, which is a limitation of current cancer therapies.
Researchers continue to pursue pharmaceuticals targeting specific proteins in cancer-associated molecular pathways to minimize damage to healthy tissue and improve treatment outcomes. The approach to treating cancer varies depending on the type and stage of the disease, with the goal of removing or killing rapidly dividing cancer cells.