Overall Survival and Prognostic Factors in Osteosarcoma: A Nationwide Cohort Study from Taiwan

TL;DR

This study analyzes survival rates and factors affecting outcomes in osteosarcoma patients in Taiwan using nationwide data.

Contribution

The study provides population-based evidence on prognostic factors for osteosarcoma in Taiwan, highlighting the impact of age, disease stage, and surgical management.

Findings

Older age groups and high-stage disease are associated with increased mortality risk in osteosarcoma patients.

Low-grade histology and limb salvage surgery are linked to improved survival outcomes.

Tumor stage, primary tumor site, and histological grade significantly affect overall survival.

Abstract

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor, predominantly affecting adolescents and young adults. Survival outcomes vary widely, and previous studies have suggested differences in patient characteristics and disease patterns across populations; however, population-based evidence from Taiwan remains limited. In this nationwide retrospective cohort study, data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry were analyzed to evaluate overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors among patients diagnosed between 2013 and 2022. A total of 371 patients were included, with a mean follow-up of 4.6 years. Kaplan–Meier analyses demonstrated significant differences in overall survival according to tumor stage, primary tumor site, and histological grade (all log-rank p < 0.05). In multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses, older age groups were associated with an increased risk of death, while high-stage disease (AJCC stage III–IV) was associated with a significantly higher risk of mortality compared with low-stage disease (HR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.30–2.90). In contrast, low-grade histology (HR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.14–0.71) and limb salvage surgery (HR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.23–0.64) were associated with improved survival. These findings provide population-based evidence on prognostic factors for osteosarcoma in Taiwan and highlight the associations of age, disease stage, tumor biology, and surgical management with overall survival.

Figures