Goal: Determine what drives metastatic disease progression in chondrosarcoma to identify novel therapeutic targets for treatment.

Projects include:

• Investigating the specific molecular mechanisms dysregulated in chondrosarcoma that result in metastatic progression and how these derangements affect cell behavior in vitro
• Investigating how these cellular derangements can be exploited as potential therapeutic targets to prevent and treat metastatic disease.
• Investigating chondrosarcoma's immune landscape and how this may relate to disease progression and patient outcomes.

Selected Publications

• Tumor necrosis is an underappreciated histopathologic factor in the grading of chondrosarcoma. Journal Article Bmc Cancer · June 23, 2023BACKGROUND: Cartilaginous neoplasms can be challenging to grade; there is a need to create an evidence-based rubric for grading. The goal of this study was to identify histopathologic features of chondrosarcoma that were associated with 5-year survival and ...Full text
   
• Regional anesthesia is associated with improved metastasis-free survival after surgical resection of bone sarcomas. Journal Article J Orthop Res · May 8, 2023
  There is increasing evidence that perioperative factors, including type of anesthesia, may be an important consideration regarding oncological disease progression. Previous studies have suggested that regional anesthesia can improve oncological outcomes by ...Full text
   
• Giant cell tumor of bone in the pediatric population: a retrospective study highlighting cases of metaphyseal only location and increased local recurrence rates in skeletally immature patients. Journal Article Skeletal Radiol · May 8, 2023
  OBJECTIVE: To describe the presentation of giant cell tumors (GCT) of the bone in the pediatric population to (1) improve the differential diagnosis of pediatric bone tumors and (2) identify the origin of GCT. Understanding the origin of bone tumors assist ...Full text
   
• Hydropneumodissection-Assisted Cryoablation of Recurrent Sarcoma Adjacent to the Sciatic Nerve as a Limb-Sparing Alternative to Hindquarter Amputation. Journal Article J Vasc Interv Radiol · May 2023Full text
   
• Juxtametallic Bipolar Bone Radiofrequency Ablation: Thermal Monitoring in an Ex-Vivo Model with Specimen MRI and Histopathologic Correlation. Journal Article J Vasc Interv Radiol · December 2022PURPOSE: To measure the ablation zone temperature and nontarget tissue temperature during radiofrequency (RF) ablation in bone-containing metal instrumentation versus no metal instrumentation (control group). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ex vivo experiments were ...Full text
   
• Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Megaprosthetic Reconstructions: Drug and Dosing May Matter More than Duration. Journal Article Antimicrob Agents Chemother · October 18, 2022In orthopedic oncology, the implant of a megaprosthetic device is standard of care after large-scale tumor resection involving segmental removal of bone. Infection remains the leading cause of implant failure, often resulting in major morbidity. Perioperat ...Full text
   
• Intraoperative angiography imaging correlates with wound complications following soft tissue sarcoma resection. Journal Article J Orthop Res · October 2022
  Wound complications are common and potentially devastating for soft tissue sarcoma patients receiving preoperative radiation therapy. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescent angiography (ICGA ...Full text
   
• Investigating readmission rates for patients undergoing oncologic resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction for primary sarcomas and tumors involving bone. Journal Article J Surg Oncol · August 2022BACKGROUND: Little is known about the drivers of readmission in patients undergoing Orthopaedic oncologic resection. The goal of this study was to identify factors independently associated with 90-day readmission for patients undergoing oncologic resection ...Full text
   
• Corrigendum to 'Why Do Patients Undergoing Extremity Prosthetic Reconstruction for Metastatic Disease Get Readmitted?' [The Journal of Arthroplasty 37 (2022) 232-237]. Journal Article J Arthroplasty · June 2022Full text
   
• Identifying Modifiable and Non-modifiable Risk Factors of Readmission and Short-Term Mortality in Chondrosarcoma: A National Cancer Database Study. Journal Article Ann Surg Oncol · February 2022BACKGROUND: Limited data are available to inform the risk of readmission and short-term mortality in musculoskeletal oncology. The goal of this study was to identify factors independently associated with 30-day readmission and 90-day mortality following su ...Full text
• ASO Author Reflections: Identifying Modifiable and Non-Modifiable Risk Factors of Readmission and Short-Term Mortality in Chondrosarcoma. Journal Article Ann Surg Oncol · February 2022Full text
   
• Why Do Patients Undergoing Extremity Prosthetic Reconstruction for Metastatic Disease Get Readmitted? Journal Article J Arthroplasty · February 2022BACKGROUND: Orthopedic oncology patients are particularly susceptible to increased readmission rates and poor surgical outcomes, yet little is known about readmission rates. The goal of this study is to identify factors independently associated with 90-day ...Full text
   
• Extent of tumor fibrosis/hyalinization and infarction following neoadjuvant radiation therapy is associated with improved survival in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma. Journal Article Cancer Med · January 2022INTRODUCTION: The current standard of care for most intermediate and high-grade soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) includes limb-preserving surgical resection with either neoadjuvant radiation therapy (NRT) or adjuvant radiation therapy. To date, there have been a few ...Full text
   
• ASO Visual Abstract: Identifying Modifiable and Non-Modifiable Risk Factors of Readmission and Short-Term Mortality in Osteosarcoma-A National Cancer Database Study. Journal Article Ann Surg Oncol · December 2021Full text
   
• Death following pulmonary complications of surgery before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Journal Article Br J Surg · December 1, 2021 BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the impact of pulmonary complications on death after surgery both before and during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. METHODS: This was a patient-level, comparative analysis ...Full text
   
• Staging and Surveillance of Myxoid Liposarcoma: Follow-up Assessment and the Metastatic Pattern of 169 Patients Suggests Inadequacy of Current Practice Standards. Journal Article Ann Surg Oncol · November 2021BACKGROUND: Unlike other sarcoma subtypes, myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) has a propensity for extra-pulmonary metastases. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis has become an accepted practice for surveillance. However, recent literature...Full text
   
• Identifying Modifiable and Non-modifiable Risk Factors of Readmission and Short-Term Mortality in Osteosarcoma: A National Cancer Database Study.  Journal Article Ann Surg Oncol · November 2021BACKGROUND: There are limited data to inform risk of readmission and short-term mortality in musculoskeletal oncology. The goal of this study was to identify factors independently associated with 30-day readmission and 90-day mortality following surgical r ...Full text
   
• Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for oncologic reconstruction of the proximal humerus: a systematic review. Journal Article J Shoulder Elbow Surg · November 2021BACKGROUND: In recent years, there has been growing interested in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) for the reconstruction of the proximal humerus after oncologic resection. However, the indications and outcomes of oncologic rTSA remain uncle ...Full text
   
• Effect of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on planned cancer surgery for 15 tumour types in 61 countries: an international, prospective, cohort study. Journal Article Lancet Oncol · November 2021
  BACKGROUND: Surgery is the main cure modality for solid cancers and was prioritized to continue during COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aimed to identify immediate areas for system strengthening by comparing the delivery of elective cancer surgery during ...Full text
   
• Treatment of Chondroblastoma with Denosumab: A Case Report with a Correlative Analysis of Effect on the RANK Signaling Pathway. Journal Article Jbjs Case Connect · May 17, 2021CASE: A 15-year-old boy with chondroblastoma of the right hemipelvis presented with significant periacetabular bone destruction. Neoadjuvant denosumab treatment facilitated initial joint-preserving surgery. Unfortunately, he experienced two local recurrences ...Full text

If you are interested in joining the team, contact julia.visgauss@duke.edu.

• Learn lab techniques
• Getting involved in exciting research and discoveries
• Presentations & publications