Yuwei Cai, Lin Zhou, Zhongxiang Yu, Juntao Feng

For correspondence:-  Juntao Feng   Email: fengsiyuan101125@126.com   Tel:+86-017717530017

Received: 19 September 2024        Accepted: 18 October 2024        Published: 30 November 2024

Citation: Cai Y, Zhou L, Yu Z, Feng J. Cox regression analysis of the effect of ifosfamide and levamisole combination therapy on limb function and survival quality in osteosarcoma patients. Trop J Pharm Res 2024; 23(11):1901-1907 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v23i11.14

© 2024 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of ifosfamide combined therapy on limb functionality and quality of life in patients with osteosarcoma, utilizing Cox regression analysis to identify significant prognostic factors. Methods: This was a prospective analysis conducted on 90 osteosarcoma patients admitted to Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai, China between January 2021 and January 2023. Participants were randomly assigned to study (n = 49) and control groups (n = 41). The study group received a combination of ifosfamide (intravenously, 1.2 – 2.5 g/m2 of body surface area for 5 consecutive days per treatment cycle) and levamisole (50 mg) and administered 2 to 3 times daily for three days every 2 weeks from the 7th day after surgery, while the control group received levamisole alone. Functional outcome was assessed and compared using the Lysholm scoring scale, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, which served as inflammatory markers in both groups. Cox regression analysis was used to identify survival predictors over a 180-day follow-up period. Results: Lysholm scores in study group were significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, TNFα and CRP were significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the number of types of complications between both groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The combination of ifosfamide and levamisole significantly enhances lower limb functionality, and decreases the incidence of complications in patients with osteosarcoma whose prognosis is intricately linked to several key factors, such as tumor location, disease staging, and the presence of complications. Further validation with larger sample sizes and multi-center studies is required.