Targeted therapy medicines are a type of cancer treatment that work by targeting specific molecules that are involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. In musculoskeletal oncology, targeted therapy medicines are used to treat bone and soft tissue tumors, including osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. Some common targeted therapy medicines used to treat musculoskeletal tumors include:

• Denosumab: This medication is a monoclonal antibody that is used to treat bone tumors, including giant cell tumor of the bone. It works by blocking a protein called RANKL, which helps prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells.
• Imatinib: This medication is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is used to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and some types of leukemia. It works by blocking the activity of a specific enzyme called BCR-ABL, which helps slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
• Pazopanib: This medication is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is used to treat soft tissue sarcomas. It works by blocking the activity of several enzymes that are involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells.
• Trabectedin: This medication is a chemotherapy agent that is used to treat soft tissue sarcomas. It works by disrupting the DNA inside cancer cells, which helps slow or stop their growth.

Immunotherapy medicines are a type of cancer treatment that work by boosting the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. In musculoskeletal oncology, immunotherapy medicines are currently being investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors, including osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. Some types of immunotherapy being studied for musculoskeletal tumors include:

• Checkpoint inhibitors: These medications work by blocking proteins on the surface of cancer cells that can prevent the immune system from attacking them. Checkpoint inhibitors that are being studied for musculoskeletal tumors include drugs that target PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4.
• CAR T-cell therapy: This treatment involves removing a patient’s T cells (a type of immune cell) and modifying them in a laboratory to recognize and attack cancer cells. The modified T cells are then infused back into the patient’s body to help fight the cancer.
• Interleukin-2 (IL-2): This medication is a cytokine that is naturally produced by the body to help regulate the immune system. In high doses, IL-2 can stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells.

Hormone therapy is used to treat certain types of musculoskeletal tumors that are sensitive to hormones. This treatment involves using drugs that block the production or activity of hormones that can promote tumor growth.