Safety of zoledronic acid and incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) during adjuvant therapy in a randomised phase III trial (AZURE: BIG 01–04) for women with stage II/III breast cancer

Bone-modifying agents for reducing bone loss in women with early and locally advanced breast cancer: a network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Bisphosphonates and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-inhibitors are amongst the bone-modifying agents used as supportive treatment in women with breast cancer who do not have bone metastases. These agents aim to reduce bone loss and the risk of fractures. Bisphosphonates have demonstrated survival benefits, particularly in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES

To assess and compare the effects of different bone-modifying agents as supportive treatment to reduce bone mineral density loss and osteoporotic fractures in women with breast cancer without bone metastases and generate a ranking of treatment options using network meta-analyses (NMAs).

SEARCH METHODS

We identified studies by electronically searching CENTRAL, MEDLINE and Embase until January 2023. We searched various trial registries and screened abstracts of conference proceedings and reference lists of identified trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials comparing different bisphosphonates and RANKL-inihibitors with each other or against no further treatment or placebo for women with breast cancer without bone metastases.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies and certainty of evidence using GRADE. Outcomes were bone mineral density, quality of life, overall fractures, overall survival and adverse events. We conducted NMAs and generated treatment rankings.

MAIN RESULTS

Forty-seven trials (35,163 participants) fulfilled our inclusion criteria; 34 trials (33,793 participants) could be considered in the NMA (8 different treatment options). Bone mineral density We estimated that the bone mineral density of participants with no treatment/placebo measured as total T-score was -1.34. Evidence from the NMA (9 trials; 1166 participants) suggests that treatment with ibandronate (T-score -0.77; MD 0.57, 95% CI -0.05 to 1.19) may slightly increase bone mineral density (low certainty) and treatment with zoledronic acid (T-score -0.45; MD 0.89, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.16) probably slightly increases bone mineral density compared to no treatment/placebo (moderate certainty). Risedronate (T-score -1.08; MD 0.26, 95% CI -0.32 to 0.84) may result in little to no difference compared to no treatment/placebo (low certainty). We are uncertain whether alendronate (T-score 2.36; MD 3.70, 95% CI -2.01 to 9.41) increases bone mineral density compared to no treatment/placebo (very low certainty). Quality of life No quantitative analyses could be performed for quality of life, as only three studies reported this outcome. All three studies showed only minimal differences between the respective interventions examined. Overall fracture rate We estimated that 70 of 1000 participants with no treatment/placebo had fractures. Evidence from the NMA (16 trials; 19,492 participants) indicates that treatment with clodronate or ibandronate (42 of 1000; RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.92; 40 of 1000; RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.86, respectively) decreases the number of fractures compared to no treatment/placebo (high certainty). Denosumab or zoledronic acid (51 of 1000; RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.01; 55 of 1000; RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.11, respectively) probably slightly decreases the number of fractures; and risedronate (39 of 1000; RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.15 to 2.16) probably decreases the number of fractures compared to no treatment/placebo (moderate certainty). Pamidronate (106 of 1000; RR 1.52, 95% CI 0.75 to 3.06) probably increases the number of fractures compared to no treatment/placebo (moderate certainty). Overall survival We estimated that 920 of 1000 participants with no treatment/placebo survived overall. Evidence from the NMA (17 trials; 30,991 participants) suggests that clodronate (924 of 1000; HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.17), denosumab (927 of 1000; HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.21), ibandronate (915 of 1000; HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.34) and zoledronic acid (925 of 1000; HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.14) may result in little to no difference regarding overall survival compared to no treatment/placebo (low certainty). Additionally, we are uncertain whether pamidronate (905 of 1000; HR 1.20, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.78) decreases overall survival compared to no treatment/placebo (very low certainty). Osteonecrosis of the jaw We estimated that 1 of 1000 participants with no treatment/placebo developed osteonecrosis of the jaw. Evidence from the NMA (12 trials; 23,527 participants) suggests that denosumab (25 of 1000; RR 24.70, 95% CI 9.56 to 63.83), ibandronate (6 of 1000; RR 5.77, 95% CI 2.04 to 16.35) and zoledronic acid (9 of 1000; RR 9.41, 95% CI 3.54 to 24.99) probably increases the occurrence of osteonecrosis of the jaw compared to no treatment/placebo (moderate certainty). Additionally, clodronate (3 of 1000; RR 2.65, 95% CI 0.83 to 8.50) may increase the occurrence of osteonecrosis of the jaw compared to no treatment/placebo (low certainty). Renal impairment We estimated that 14 of 1000 participants with no treatment/placebo developed renal impairment. Evidence from the NMA (12 trials; 22,469 participants) suggests that ibandronate (28 of 1000; RR 1.98, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.88) probably increases the occurrence of renal impairment compared to no treatment/placebo (moderate certainty). Zoledronic acid (21 of 1000; RR 1.49, 95% CI 0.87 to 2.58) probably increases the occurrence of renal impairment while clodronate (12 of 1000; RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.39) and denosumab (11 of 1000; RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.19) probably results in little to no difference regarding the occurrence of renal impairment compared to no treatment/placebo (moderate certainty).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

When considering bone-modifying agents for managing bone loss in women with early or locally advanced breast cancer, one has to balance between efficacy and safety. Our findings suggest that bisphosphonates (excluding alendronate and pamidronate) or denosumab compared to no treatment or placebo likely results in increased bone mineral density and reduced fracture rates. Our survival analysis that included pre and postmenopausal women showed little to no difference regarding overall survival. These treatments may lead to more adverse events. Therefore, forming an overall judgement of the best ranked bone-modifying agent is challenging. More head-to-head comparisons, especially comparing denosumab with any bisphosphonate, are needed to address gaps and validate the findings of this review.

The trend of dental check-up and prevalence of dental complications following the use of bone modifying agents in patients with metastatic breast and prostate cancer: analysis of data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service

BACKGROUND

Bone-modifying agents (BMA) are key components in the management of cancer patients with bone metastasis. Despite their clinical benefits, the use of BMA is associated with dental adverse events (AEs) including medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). This study investigated the frequency of dental surveillance before BMA treatment and the prevalence of dental AEs including MRONJ, after BMA treatment in patients with bone metastasis from breast and prostate cancer using data from the national health insurance system.

METHODS

Data, including age, cancer diagnosis, administered BMA, and dental AEs during cancer treatment, of patients with bone metastasis from breast and prostate cancer who received at least one infusion of BMA between 2007 and 2019 were extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) dataset.

RESULTS

Of the 15,357 patients who received BMA, 1,706 patients (11.1%) underwent dental check-ups before BMA treatment. The proportion of patients receiving dental check-up increased from 4.4% in 2007 to 16.7% in 2019. Referral to dentists for a dental check-up was more active in clinics/primary hospitals than general/tertiary hospitals, and medical doctors and urologists actively consulted to dentists than general surgeons, regardless of the patient's health insurance status. After BMA treatment, 508 patients (3.8%) developed dental AEs, including abscess (42.9%), acute periodontitis (29.7%), acute pericoronitis (14.9%), and MRONJ (12.5% of dental AEs cases, 0.5% of total BMA treated patients).

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the long treatment period in patients with metastatic cancer, coordination between dentists and oncologists is necessary to ensure appropriate dental management before the initiation of BMA.

A Narrative Review of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: What a Clinician Should Know

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is an uncommon complication of antiresorptive therapy (ART) in patients receiving higher and more frequent doses of osteoclast inhibitors. The jaws are the most common site, as they have high bone turnover. The oral structures are exposed to various types of stresses, like mastication and dental diseases, which lead to microtrauma and increased bone remodeling. The hallmark feature of MRONJ is the area of exposed, necrotic, nonhealing, asymptomatic bone for more than eight weeks. Objective signs are pain in the jaw and oral cavity, loose teeth, gingival swelling, ulceration, soft tissue infection, and paresthesia in the trigeminal nerve branches' territory. Clinically, the MRONJ has been defined in four stages, from stage 0 to stage 3. Close coordination between the dentist and oncologist is critical for optimal treatment. Conservative management should be preferred over surgical management. There is significant underreporting and misdiagnosis of MRONJ cases in regular clinical practice. There needs to be more awareness among treating physicians about this sporadic complication of bisphosphonate therapy. This narrative review has given a detailed insight into the subject, starting with etiology, pathogenesis, incidence, clinical presentation, workup, staging, and various management strategies. The review article focuses mainly on practical aspects of MRONJ, which every clinician dealing with the disease must know. With a better awareness of this potential complication, healthcare practitioners dealing with at-risk patients can better diagnose, prevent, address, and provide necessary care.

Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ) in Children and Young Patients-A Systematic Review

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is defined by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) as the presence of an exposed bone area in the maxillofacial region, present for more than eight weeks in patients treated with the use of antiresorptive or antiangiogenic agents, with no history of radiation or metastatic disease. Bisphosphonates (BF) and denosumab (DS) are widely used in adults for the management of patients with cancer and osteoporosis, and recently there has been an increase in their use in child and young patients for the management of disorders such as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS), malignant hypercalcemia, and others. There are differences between case reports in adults compared to child and young patients related to the use of antiresorptive/antiangiogenic drugs and the development of MRONJ. The aim was to analyze the presence of MRONJ in children and young patients, and the relation with oral surgery. A systematic review, following the PRISMA search matrix based on the PICO question, was conducted in PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and manual search in high-impact journals between 1960 and 2022, publications in English or Spanish, including randomized and non-randomized clinical trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, cases and controls studies, and series and case reports. A total of 2792 articles were identified and 29 were included; all of them published between 2007 and 2022, identifying 1192 patients, 39.68% male and 36.24% female, aged 11.56 years old on average, using these drugs mainly for OI (60.15%); 4.21 years on average was the therapy time and 10.18 drug doses administered on average; oral surgery was observed in 216 subjects, reporting 14 cases of MRONJ. We concluded that there is a low presence of MRONJ in the child and youth population treated with antiresorptive drugs. Data collection is weak, and details of therapy are not clear in some cases. Deficiencies in protocols and pharmacological characterization were observed in most of the included articles.

Interventions for managing medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw

BACKGROUND

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a severe adverse reaction experienced by some individuals to certain medicines commonly used in the treatment of cancer and osteoporosis (e.g. bisphosphonates, denosumab, and antiangiogenic agents), and involves the progressive destruction of bone in the mandible or maxilla. Depending on the drug, its dosage, and the duration of exposure, this adverse drug reaction may occur rarely (e.g. following the oral administration of bisphosphonate or denosumab treatments for osteoporosis, or antiangiogenic agent-targeted cancer treatment), or commonly (e.g. following intravenous bisphosphonate for cancer treatment). MRONJ is associated with significant morbidity, adversely affects quality of life (QoL), and is challenging to treat. This is an update of our review first published in 2017.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of interventions versus no treatment, placebo, or an active control for the prophylaxis of MRONJ in people exposed to antiresorptive or antiangiogenic drugs. To assess the effects of non-surgical or surgical interventions (either singly or in combination) versus no treatment, placebo, or an active control for the treatment of people with manifest MRONJ.

SEARCH METHODS

Cochrane Oral Health's Information Specialist searched four bibliographic databases up to 16 June 2021 and used additional search methods to identify published, unpublished, and ongoing studies.  SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing one modality of intervention with another for the prevention or treatment of MRONJ. For 'prophylaxis of MRONJ', the primary outcome of interest was the incidence of MRONJ; secondary outcomes were QoL, time-to-event, and rate of complications and side effects of the intervention. For 'treatment of established MRONJ', the primary outcome of interest was healing of MRONJ; secondary outcomes were QoL, recurrence, and rate of complications and side effects of the intervention.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened the search results, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias in the included studies. For dichotomous outcomes, we reported the risk ratio (RR) (or rate ratio) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

MAIN RESULTS

We included 13 RCTs (1668 participants) in this updated review, of which eight were new additions. The studies were clinically diverse and examined very different interventions, so meta-analyses could not be performed. We have low or very low certainty about available evidence on interventions for the prophylaxis or treatment of MRONJ. Prophylaxis of MRONJ Five RCTs examined different interventions to prevent the occurrence of MRONJ. One RCT compared standard care with regular dental examinations at three-month intervals and preventive treatments (including antibiotics before dental extractions and the use of techniques for wound closure that avoid exposure and contamination of bone) in men with metastatic prostate cancer treated with zoledronic acid. The intervention seemed to lower the risk of MRONJ (RR 0.10, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.39, 253 participants). Secondary outcomes were not evaluated. Dentoalveolar surgery is considered a common predisposing event for developing MRONJ and five RCTs tested various preventive measures to reduce the risk of postoperative MRONJ. The studies evaluated plasma rich in growth factors inserted into the postextraction alveolus in addition to standardised medical and surgical care versus standardised medical and surgical care alone (RR 0.08, 95% CI 0.00 to 1.51, 176 participants); delicate surgery and closure by primary intention versus non-traumatic tooth avulsion and closure by secondary intention (no case of postoperative MRONJ in either group); primary closure of the extraction socket with a mucoperiosteal flap versus application of platelet-rich fibrin without primary wound closure (no case of postoperative MRONJ in either group); and subperiosteal wound closure versus epiperiosteal wound closure (RR 0.09, 95% CI 0.00 to 1.56, 132 participants).  Treatment of MRONJ Eight RCTs examined different interventions for the treatment of established MRONJ; that is, the effect on MRONJ cure rates.  One RCT analysed hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment used in addition to standard care (antiseptic rinses, antibiotics, and surgery) compared with standard care alone (at last follow-up: RR 1.56, 95% CI 0.77 to 3.18, 46 participants).  Healing rates from MRONJ were not significantly different between autofluorescence-guided bone surgery and conventional bone surgery (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.37, 30 participants). Another RCT that compared autofluorescence- with tetracycline fluorescence-guided sequestrectomy for the surgical treatment of MRONJ found no significant difference (at one-year follow-up: RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.30, 34 participants).  Three RCTs investigated the effect of growth factors and autologous platelet concentrates on healing rates of MRONJ: platelet-rich fibrin after bone surgery versus surgery alone (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.22, 47 participants), bone morphogenetic protein-2 together with platelet-rich fibrin versus platelet-rich fibrin alone (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.29, 55 participants), and concentrated growth factor and primary wound closure versus primary wound closure only (RR 1.38, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.34, 28 participants).   Two RCTs focused on pharmacological treatment with teriparatide: teriparatide 20 μg daily versus placebo in addition to standard care (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.31 to 2.95, 33 participants) and teriparatide 56.5 μg weekly versus teriparatide 20 μg daily in addition to standard care (RR 1.60, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.44, 12 participants).

AUTHORS CONCLUSIONS

Prophylaxis of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw One open-label RCT provided some evidence that dental examinations at three-month intervals and preventive treatments may be more effective than standard care for reducing the incidence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in individuals taking intravenous bisphosphonates for advanced cancer. We assessed the certainty of the evidence to be very low. There is insufficient evidence to either claim or refute a benefit of the interventions tested for prophylaxis of MRONJ in patients with antiresorptive therapy undergoing dentoalveolar surgery. Although some interventions suggested a potential large effect, the studies were underpowered to show statistical significance, and replication of the results in larger studies is pending. Treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw The available evidence is insufficient to either claim or refute a benefit, in addition to standard care, of any of the interventions studied for the treatment of MRONJ.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in cancer patients: Case series and review of the current literature

Currently, a large proportion of cancer patients are treated with bone modifying agents (BMA). In this regard, the increase in the prescription of these drugs has lead to concerns in the increment of osteonecrosis of the jaws. This article describes four patients with BMA cancer treatments requested dental evaluation at our institution due to pain and swelling of the mandibular bone after tooth extraction, tooth loss, or unknown risk factor. Oral and radiographic evaluation reveals Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) at different clinical stages according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) classification. Some patients underwent abscess drainage, oral cleaning and antibiotic therapy with complete recovery. Follow-up showed treatment success in all patients. That is why we emphasize the importance of early establishment of appropriate treatment and emphasize the avoidance of dental procedures during BMA therapy.

Biodegradable magnesium implant enhances angiogenesis and alleviates medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in rats

Background

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a serious complication associated with antiresorptive and antiangiogenic medications, of which impaired angiogenesis is a key pathological alteration. Since Magnesium (Mg)-based implants possess proangiogenic effects, we hypothesized that the biodegradable Mg implant could alleviate the development of MRONJ via enhancing angiogenesis.

Methods

MRONJ model was established and divided into the Veh ​+ ​Ti group (Vehicle-treated rat, with Titanium (Ti) implant), BP ​+ ​Ti group (Bisphosphonate (BP)-treated rat, with Ti implant), BP ​+ ​Mg group (BP-treated rat, with Mg implant), BP ​+ ​Mg ​+ ​SU5416 group (BP-treated rat, with Mg implant and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 inhibitor), BP ​+ ​Mg ​+ ​BIBN group (BP-treated rat, with Mg implant and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist), and BP ​+ ​Mg ​+ ​SU5416+BIBN group (BP-treated rat, with Mg implant and VEGF receptor-2 inhibitor and CGRP receptor antagonist). The occurrence of MRONJ, alveolar bone necrosis, new bone formation and vessel formation were assessed by histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry, and micro-CT analysis.

Results

Eight weeks after surgery, the BP ​+ ​Mg group had significantly reduced occurrence of MRONJ-like lesion and histological osteonecrosis, increased bone microstructural parameters, and increased expressions of VEGFA and CGRP, than the BP ​+ ​Ti group. By simultaneously blocking VEGF receptor-2 and CGRP receptor, the vessel volume and new bone formation in the BP ​+ ​Mg group were significantly decreased, meanwhile the occurrence of MRONJ-like lesion and histological bone necrosis were significantly increased.

Conclusion

Biodegradable Mg implant could alleviate the development of MRONJ-like lesion, possibly via upregulating VEGF- and CGRP-mediated angiogenesis. Mg-based implants have the translational potential to be developed as a novel internal fixation device for patients with the risk of MRONJ.

The Translational potential of this article

This work reports a biodegradable Mg implant which ameliorates the development of MRONJ-like lesions possibly due to its angiogenic property. Mg-based implants have the potential to be developed as a novel internal fixation device for patients at the risk of MRONJ.

Systemic therapy for older patients with early breast cancer

Over a third of breast cancers are diagnosed in patients ≥70 years. With the ageing of the population, the number of older breast cancer patients will continue to rise. Older patients are under-represented in clinical studies underpinning breast cancer therapy, and frequently do not receive guideline-concordant care. This review outlines the evidence on the efficacy and the safety of systemic treatment options for the management of early-stage breast cancer (EBC) in older adults and identifies where critical data gaps exist. Chemotherapy is beneficial for older patients with oestrogen receptor (ER)-negative EBC, whilst the benefit for those with ER-positive disease is less certain. Careful consideration should be given to the side-effect profile of the treatment regimen chosen, owing to the risks of myelosuppression and cardiac damage, as well as toxicities, such as neuropathy, that may impact independence. The impact of chemotherapy on quality of life (QOL) outcomes appears significant but reversible in this population. Gene expression profiling, benefit and chemotherapy toxicity prediction tools integrating global health considerations hold promise to better inform chemotherapy decisions in this population. Benefits on targeted anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) agents is maintained in older EBC patients with a favourable safety profile. Endocrine therapy including aromatase inhibitors is the standard of care in this population, and extended treatment decisions should consider effects on bone health and life expectancy. More trials recruiting older adults with pragmatic designs and meaningful endpoints for this population are warranted to better inform systemic treatment decisions and discussion with patients.

Exosomal miR-19a and IBSP cooperate to induce osteolytic bone metastasis of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer

Bone metastasis is an incurable complication of breast cancer. In advanced stages, patients with estrogen-positive tumors experience a significantly higher incidence of bone metastasis (>87%) compared to estrogen-negative patients (<56%). To understand the mechanism of this bone-tropism of ER+ tumor, and to identify liquid biopsy biomarkers for patients with high risk of bone metastasis, the secreted extracellular vesicles and cytokines from bone-tropic breast cancer cells are examined in this study. Both exosomal miR-19a and Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein (IBSP) are found to be significantly upregulated and secreted from bone-tropic ER+ breast cancer cells, increasing their levels in the circulation of patients. IBSP is found to attract osteoclast cells and create an osteoclast-enriched environment in the bone, assisting the delivery of exosomal miR-19a to osteoclast to induce osteoclastogenesis. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which ER+ breast cancer cells create a microenvironment favorable for colonization in the bone. These two secreted factors can also serve as effective biomarkers for ER+ breast cancer to predict their risks of bone metastasis. Furthermore, our screening of a natural compound library identifies chlorogenic acid as a potent inhibitor for IBSP-receptor binding to suppress bone metastasis of ER+ tumor, suggesting its preventive use for bone recurrence in ER+ patients.

Updated recommendations regarding the management of older patients with breast cancer: a joint paper from the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) and the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG)

Breast cancer is increasingly prevalent in older adults and is a substantial part of routine oncology practice. However, management of breast cancer in this population is challenging because the disease is highly heterogeneous and there is insufficient evidence specific to older adults. Decision making should not be driven by age alone but should involve geriatric assessments plus careful consideration of life expectancy, competing risks of mortality, and patient preferences. A multidisciplinary taskforce, including members of the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists and International Society of Geriatric Oncology, gathered to expand and update the previous 2012 evidence-based recommendations for the management of breast cancer in older individuals with the endorsement of the European Cancer Organisation. These guidelines were expanded to include chemotherapy toxicity prediction calculators, cultural and social considerations, surveillance imaging, genetic screening, gene expression profiles, neoadjuvant systemic treatment options, bone-modifying drugs, targeted therapies, and supportive care. Recommendations on geriatric assessment, ductal carcinoma in situ, screening, primary endocrine therapy, surgery, radiotherapy, adjuvant systemic therapy, and secondary breast cancer were updated.

The adverse effects of bisphosphonates in breast cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Bisphosphonate drugs can be used to improve the outcomes of women with breast cancer. Whilst many meta-analyses have quantified their potential benefits for patients, attempts at comprehensive quantification of potential adverse effects have been limited. We undertook a meta-analysis with novel methodology to identify and quantify these adverse effects.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed randomised controlled trials in breast cancer where at least one of the treatments was a bisphosphonate (zoledronic acid, ibandronate, pamidronate, alendronate or clodronate). Neoadjuvant, adjuvant and metastatic settings were examined. Primary outcomes were adverse events of any type or severity (excluding death). We carried out pairwise and network meta-analyses to estimate the size of any adverse effects potentially related to bisphosphonates. In order to ascertain whether adverse effects differed by individual factors such as age, or interacted with other common adjuvant breast cancer treatments, we examined individual-level patient data for one large trial, AZURE.

FINDINGS

We identified 56 trials that reported adverse data, which included a total of 29,248 patients (18,301 receiving bisphosphonate drugs versus 10,947 not). 24 out of the 103 different adverse outcomes analysed showed a statistically and practically significant increase in patients receiving a bisphosphonate drug compared with those not (2 additional outcomes that appeared statistically significant came only from small studies with low event counts and no clinical suspicion so are likely artifacts). Most of these 24 are already clinically recognised: 'flu-like symptoms, fever, headache and chills; increased bone pain, arthralgia, myalgia, back pain; cardiac events, thromboembolic events; hypocalcaemia and osteonecrosis of the jaw; as well as possibly stiffness and nausea. Oral clodronate appeared to increase the risk of vomiting and diarrhoea (which may also be increased by other bisphosphonates), and there may be some hepatotoxicity. Four additional potential adverse effects emerged for bisphosphonate drugs in this analysis which have not classically be recognised: fatigue, neurosensory problems, hypertonia/muscle spasms and possibly dysgeusia. Several symptoms previously reported as potential side effects in the literature were not significantly increased in this analysis: constipation, insomnia, respiratory problems, oedema or thirst/dry mouth. Individual patient-level data and subgroup analysis revealed little variation in side effects between women of different ages or menopausal status, those with metastatic versus non-metastatic cancer, or between women receiving different concurrent breast cancer therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis has produced estimates for the absolute frequencies of a range of side effects significantly associated with bisphosphonate drugs when used by breast cancer patients. These results show good agreement with previous literature on the subject but are the first systematic quantification of side effects and their severities. However, the analysis is limited by the availability and quality of data on adverse events, and the potential for bias introduced by a lack of standards for reporting of such events. We therefore present a table of adverse effects for bisphosphonates, identified and quantified to the best of our ability from a large number of trials, which we hope can be used to improve the communication of the potential harms of these drugs to patients and their healthcare providers.

SIRT1 Gene SNP rs932658 Is Associated With Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a rare but serious adverse drug reaction. Our previous whole-exome sequencing study found SIRT1 intronic region single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7896005 to be associated with MRONJ in cancer patients treated with intravenous (iv) bisphosphonates (BPs). This study aimed to identify causal variants for this association. In silico analyses identified three SNPs (rs3758391, rs932658, and rs2394443) in the SIRT1 promoter region that are in high linkage disequilibrium (r²  > 0.8) with rs7896005. To validate the association between these SNPs and MRONJ, we genotyped these three SNPs on the germline DNA from 104 cancer patients of European ancestry treated with iv BPs (46 cases and 58 controls). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed the minor alleles of these three SNPs were associated with lower odds for MRONJ. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) and p values were 0.351 (0.164-0.751; p = 0.007) for rs3758391, 0.351 (0.164-0.751; p = 0.007) for rs932658, and 0.331 (0.157-0.697; p = 0.0036) for rs2394443, respectively. In the reporter gene assays, constructs containing rs932658 with variant allele A had higher luciferase activity than the reference allele, whereas constructs containing SNP rs3758391 and/or rs2394443 did not significantly affect activity. These results indicate that the promoter SNP rs932658 regulates the expression of SIRT1 and presumably lowers the risk of MRONJ by increasing SIRT1 expression. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Bone Health Management After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: An Expert Panel Opinion from the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

Bone health disturbances commonly occur after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) with loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and avascular necrosis (AVN) foremost among them. BMD loss is related to pretransplantation chemotherapy and radiation exposure and immunosuppressive therapy for graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) and results from deficiencies in growth or gonadal hormones, disturbances in calcium and vitamin D homeostasis, as well as osteoblast and osteoclast dysfunction. Although the pathophysiology of AVN remains unclear, high-dose glucocorticoid exposure is the most frequent association. Various societal treatment guidelines for osteoporosis exist, but the focus is mainly on menopausal-associated osteoporosis. HCT survivors comprise a distinct population with unique comorbidities, making general approaches to bone health management inappropriate in some cases. To address a core set of 16 frequently asked questions (FAQs) relevant to bone health in HCT, the American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy Committee on Practice Guidelines convened a panel of experts in HCT, adult and pediatric endocrinology, orthopedics, and oral medicine. Owing to a lack of relevant prospective controlled clinical trials that specifically address bone health in HCT, the answers to the FAQs rely on evidence derived from retrospective HCT studies, results extrapolated from prospective studies in non-HCT settings, relevant societal guidelines, and expert panel opinion. Given the heterogenous comorbidities and needs of individual HCT recipients, answers to FAQs in this article should be considered general recommendations, with good medical practice and judgment ultimately dictating care of individual patients. Readers are referred to the Supplementary Material for answers to additional FAQs that did not make the core set.

Complications of Dentoalveolar Surgery

This article explores how to prevent and manage complications of dentoalveolar surgery. Many complications are avoidable. Surgical skills and knowledge of anatomy play an important role in prevention of complications. Prevention starts with detailed history and physical examination of the patient. Key to perioperative management of patients is risk assessment. Without a proper history and physical examination, the clinician is unable to assess the risk of performing surgery and anesthesia for each patient. Some illnesses and medications increase the risk of complications. The following complications are discussed: alveolar osteitis, displacement, fracture, hemorrhage, infection, nonhealing wound, oroantral communication, swelling, and trismus.

Surgical treatment of advanced medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws: Comparison of soft tissue closure techniques and evaluation of side effects

The aim of the study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of patients with advanced medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) treated with different flaps for soft tissue closure. Only MRONJ stage III patients with a minimum follow-up of 6 months were included in our prospective study. The soft tissue closure techniques were: Mylohyoid Muscle Flap, Buccal Fat Flap and mucoperiosteal flap alone. Potential risk factors and surgical side effects were analyzed. Relapses occurred in 12 of 44 included cases and 38 reached mucosal integrity within the follow-up. Cases treated with the muscle or fat flap showed better results regarding the recurrence rate (p < 0.001) and soft tissue healing (p = 0.002): only 3 of 33 developed a relapse, and 31 of 33 reached mucosal integrity. The outcome was worse if MRONJ occurred at the front areas of the jaw (p = 0.025). Postoperative, the pain level was reduced significantly (p < 0.001). Partial hypoesthesia of the lip arose in 18 cases. An impairment of the long-term prosthetic rehabilitation has not been seen.Patients with MRONJ stage III undergoing surgery benefit from extensive soft tissue closure.

Tuning Ligand Density To Optimize Pharmacokinetics of Targeted Nanoparticles for Dual Protection against Tumor-Induced Bone Destruction

Breast cancer patients are at high risk for bone metastasis. Metastatic bone disease is a major clinical problem that leads to a reduction in mobility, increased risk of pathologic fracture, severe bone pain, and other skeletal-related events. The transcription factor Gli2 drives expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), which activates osteoclast-mediated bone destruction, and previous studies showed that Gli2 genetic repression in bone-metastatic tumor cells significantly reduces tumor-induced bone destruction. Small molecule inhibitors of Gli2 have been identified; however, the lipophilicity and poor pharmacokinetic profile of these compounds have precluded their success in vivo. In this study, we designed a bone-targeted nanoparticle (BTNP) comprising an amphiphilic diblock copolymer of poly[(propylene sulfide)-block-(alendronate acrylamide-co-N,N-dimethylacrylamide)] [PPS-b-P(Aln-co-DMA)] to encapsulate and preferentially deliver a small molecule Gli2 inhibitor, GANT58, to bone-associated tumors. The mol % of the bisphosphonate Aln in the hydrophilic polymer block was varied in order to optimize BTNP targeting to tumor-associated bone by a combination of nonspecific tumor accumulation (presumably through the enhanced permeation and retention effect) and active bone binding. Although 100% functionalization with Aln created BTNPs with strong bone binding, these BTNPs had highly negative zeta-potential, resulting in shorter circulation time, greater liver uptake, and less distribution to metastatic tumors in bone. However, 10 mol % of Aln in the hydrophilic block generated a formulation with a favorable balance of systemic pharmacokinetics and bone binding, providing the highest bone/liver biodistribution ratio among formulations tested. In an intracardiac tumor cell injection model of breast cancer bone metastasis, treatment with the lead candidate GANT58-BTNP formulation decreased tumor-associated bone lesion area 3-fold and increased bone volume fraction in the tibiae of the mice 2.5-fold. Aln conferred bone targeting to the GANT58-BTNPs, which increased GANT58 concentration in the tumor-associated bone relative to untargeted NPs, and also provided benefit through the direct antiresorptive therapeutic function of Aln. The dual benefit of the Aln in the BTNPs was supported by the observations that drug-free Aln-containing BTNPs improved bone volume fraction in bone-tumor-bearing mice, while GANT58-BTNPs created better therapeutic outcomes than both unloaded BTNPs and GANT58-loaded untargeted NPs. These findings suggest GANT58-BTNPs have potential to potently inhibit tumor-driven osteoclast activation and resultant bone destruction in patients with bone-associated tumor metastases.

Systemic delivery of a Gli inhibitor via polymeric nanocarriers inhibits tumor-induced bone disease

Solid tumors frequently metastasize to bone and induce bone destruction leading to severe pain, fractures, and other skeletal-related events (SREs). Osteoclast inhibitors such as bisphosphonates delay SREs but do not prevent skeletal complications or improve overall survival. Because bisphosphonates can cause adverse side effects and are contraindicated for some patients, we sought an alternative therapy to reduce tumor-associated bone destruction. Our previous studies identified the transcription factor Gli2 as a key regulator of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), which is produced by bone metastatic tumor cells to promote osteoclast-mediated bone destruction. In this study, we tested the treatment effect of a Gli antagonist GANT58, which inhibits Gli2 nuclear translocation and PTHrP expression in tumor cells. In initial testing, GANT58 did not have efficacy in vivo due to its low water solubility and poor bioavailability. We therefore developed a micellar nanoparticle (NP) to encapsulate and colloidally stabilize GANT58, providing a fully aqueous, intravenously injectable formulation based on the polymer poly(propylene sulfide)₁₃₅-b-poly[(oligoethylene glycol)₉ methyl ether acrylate]₁₇ (PPS₁₃₅-b-POEGA₁₇). POEGA forms the hydrophilic NP surface while PPS forms the hydrophobic NP core that sequesters GANT58. In response to reactive oxygen species (ROS), PPS becomes hydrophilic and degrades to enable drug release. In an intratibial model of breast cancer bone metastasis, treatment with GANT58-NPs decreased bone lesion area by 49% (p<.01) and lesion number by 38% (p<.05) and resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in trabecular bone volume (p<.001). Similar results were observed in intracardiac and intratibial models of breast and lung cancer bone metastasis, respectively. Importantly, GANT58-NPs reduced tumor cell proliferation but did not alter mesenchymal stem cell proliferation or osteoblast mineralization in vitro, nor was there evidence of cytotoxicity after repeated in vivo treatment. Thus, inhibition of Gli2 using GANT58-NPs is a potential therapy to reduce bone destruction that should be considered for further testing and development toward clinical translation.

Quantitation and distribution of metallic elements in sequestra of medication-related osteonecrosis of jaw (MRONJ) using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a serious adverse effect of antiresorptive agents like bisphosphonates. Abnormal concentrations of various trace metallic elements contained in bone minerals have been associated with MRONJ. In this study, we focused on trace metallic elements contained in the MRONJ sequestrum; their content and distribution were compared to those in osteomyelitis and non-inflammatory bones using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis (SR-XRF). On ICP-AES analyses, various trace elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Ni, Sb, Ti, V, Pb) were significantly more in MRONJ sequestra than non-inflammatory bones. The Cu content was significantly higher in MRONJ sequestra than osteomyelitis and non-inflammatory bones. The Cu content in MRONJ sequestra was high even after decalcification. Additionally, Cu was distributed along the trabecular structures in decalcified MRONJ specimens, as observed using SR-XRF analysis. Therefore, this study was indicative of the characteristic behavior of Cu in MRONJ.

miRNA‑15a‑5p facilitates the bone marrow stem cell apoptosis of femoral head necrosis through the Wnt/β‑catenin/PPARγ signaling pathway

Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) are a group cells that function as an underlying cell source for bone tissue regeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms of how BMSCs are induced into apoptosis remains unclear. In the present study, it was demonstrated that the molecular mechanisms of BMSCs were exerted via microRNA-15a-5p (miR-15a-5p) in femoral head necrosis (FHN). Briefly, miRNA-15a-5p expression was elevated in a rat model of FHN. Overexpression of miR-15a-5p promoted the apoptosis of BMSCs and reduced cell growth through the Wnt/β-catenin/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) signaling pathway. Downregulation of miR-15a-5p reduced the apoptosis of BMSCs and promoted cell growth through the Wnt/β-catenin/PPARγ signaling pathway. The activation of Wnt attenuated the effects of miR-15a-5p on the apoptosis of BMSCs via the β-catenin/PPARγ signaling pathway. In conclusion, the present results indicated that miRNA-15a-5p was involved in the regulation of the apoptosis of BMSCs through regulating the Wnt/β-catenin/PPARγ signaling pathway, which may serve an important role in the regulation of FHN.

Zoledronate treatment duration is linked to bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw prevalence in rice rats with generalized periodontitis

OBJECTIVES

To determine the extent that zoledronate (ZOL) dose and duration is associated with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) prevalence in rice rats with generalized periodontitis (PD), characterize structural and tissue-level features of BRONJ-like lesions in this model, and examine the specific anti-resorptive role of ZOL in BRONJ.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rice rats (n = 228) consumed high sucrose-casein diet to enhance generalized PD. Groups of rats received 0, 8, 20, 50 or 125 µg/kg IV ZOL/4 weeks encompassing osteoporosis and oncology ZOL doses. Rats from each dose group (n = 9-16) were necropsied after 12, 18, 24 and 30 weeks of treatment. BRONJ-like lesion prevalence and tissue-level features were assessed grossly, histopathologically and by MicroCT. ZOL bone turnover effects were assessed by femoral peripheral quantitative computed tomography, serum bone turnover marker ELISAs and osteoclast immunolabelling.

RESULTS

Prevalence of BRONJ-like lesions was significantly associated with (a) ZOL treatment duration, but plateaued at the lowest oncologic dose, and (b) there was a similar dose-related plateau in the systemic anti-resorptive effect of ZOL. ZOL and BRONJ-like lesions also altered the structural and tissue-level features of the jaw.

CONCLUSION

The relationship between BRONJ-like lesion prevalence and ZOL dose and duration varies depending on the co- or pre-existing oral risk factor. At clinically relevant doses of ZOL, BRONJ-like lesions are associated with anti-resorptive activity.

Fatal Bleeding in Conjunction with Mandibular Medication-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ)

Here, we report a case of fatal bleeding in conjunction with mandibular medicationrelated osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). A 75-year-old Japanese man was referred to our department with osteonecrosis of the jaw due to bisphosphonate (BP) for multiple bone metastases from prostate cancer. Aggressive surgical intervention was ruled out due to a poor prognosis in terms of life expectancy. Death occurred due to hemorrhagic shock resulting from massive oral bleeding caused by necrosis of the mandible. Numerous reports have suggested that jaw necrosis is induced not only by BP, but also RANKL antibody, steroids, and molecularly-targeted agents. This suggests that the number of cases of MRONJ is likely to increase among elderly patients in whom general health is already poor. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery recommends aggressive treatment only in cases of stage 3 disease. Therefore, such a therapeutic strategy may only be available for cases of jaw necrosis in which the general health status of the patient is otherwise good. To prevent a life-threatening outcome in cases of MRONJ, physicians, who are responsible for determining the drug strategy, should cooperate with oral surgeons in determining the best therapeutic strategy.

Treatment of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw and its Impact on a Patient's Quality of Life: A Single-Center, 10-Year Experience from Southern Italy

INTRODUCTION

No official guidelines are available for the management of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MR-ONJ). The additional benefit of surgery after pharmacological treatment is debated by both clinicians and patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in patients' MR-ONJ-related quality of life (QoL) after pharmacological treatment with or without surgery in a large cohort affected by MR-ONJ.

METHODS

Anonymized data on patients diagnosed with MR-ONJ were extracted from the database of the Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Treatment Center (University of Messina, Italy) in the years 2005-2015. QoL was evaluated at the moment of MR-ONJ diagnoses (T0), after pharmacological treatment with or without surgery (T1 and T2, respectively), based on scores from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QOL Module for Head and Neck Cancer (global oral health status [GOHS]) and a visual analog scale (VAS), stratified by indication for use.

RESULTS

Among 100 patients, 36% were affected by osteoporosis (OSTEO group) and 64% were affected by cancer (ONC group). Considering T0, QoL scores were higher in the OSTEO group then in the ONC group. At T1, GOHS and VAS increased in both groups (OSTEO group: +9.9% and +39.9%; ONC group: +35.4 and +97.2%, respectively). Pharmacological treatment was effective in reducing pain (OSTEO group: -22.0%; ONC group: -44.8%), and social contact troubles (OSTEO group: -40.3%; ONC group: -26.7%). At T2, GOHS and VAS further increased. Scores related to 'pain' and the troubles related to the 'social dimension' also decreased (OSTEO group: -91.3% and -72.0%; ONC group: 50.8% and -16.4%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

MR-ONJ-related QoL increased after pharmacological treatment and, more notably, after surgery, which may offer benefits to selected patients. QoL data may help clinicians in promoting tailored management of MR-ONJ.

Benefits and risks of adjuvant treatment with zoledronic acid in stage II/III breast cancer. 10 years follow-up of the AZURE randomized clinical trial (BIG 01/04)

Adjuvant bisphosphonates improve disease outcomes in postmenopausal early breast cancer (EBC) but the long-term effects are poorly described. The AZURE trial (ISRCTN79831382) was designed to determine whether adjuvant zoledronic acid (ZOL) improves disease outcomes in EBC. Previous analyses showed no effect on overall outcomes but identified benefits in postmenopausal women. Here we present the long-term risks and benefits of adjuvant ZOL with 10-years follow-up.

Patients and methods

3360 patients with stage II/III breast cancer were included in an academic, international, phase III, randomized, open label trial. Patients were followed up on a regular schedule until 10 years. Patients were randomized on a 1:1 basis to standard adjuvant systemic therapy +/− intravenous ZOL 4 mg every 3–4 weeks x6, and then at reduced frequency to complete 5 years treatment. The primary outcome was disease free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes included invasive DFS (IDFS), overall survival (OS), sites of recurrence, skeletal morbidity and treatment outcomes according to primary tumor amplification of the transcription factor, MAF. Pre-planned subgroup analyses focused on interactions between menopausal status and treatment effects.

Results

With a median follow up of 117 months [IQR 70.4–120.4), DFS and IDFS were similar in both arms (HR_DFS= 0.94, 95%CI = 0.84–1.06, p = 0.340; HR_IDFS= 0.91, 95%CI = 0.82–1.02, p = 0.116). However, outcomes remain improved with ZOL in postmenopausal women (HR_DFS= 0.82, 95%CI = 0.67–1.00; HR_IDFS= 0.78, 95%CI = 0.64–0.94). In the 79% of tested women with a MAF FISH negative tumor, ZOL improved IDFS (HR_IDFS= 0.75, 95%CI = 0.58–0.97) and OS HR_OS= 0.69, 95%CI = 0.50–0.94), irrespective of menopause. ZOL did not improve disease outcomes in MAF FISH + tumors. Bone metastases as a first DFS recurrence (B_DFS) were reduced with ZOL (HR_B-DFS= 0.76, 95%CI = 0.63–0.92, p = 0.005). ZOL reduced skeletal morbidity with fewer fractures and skeletal events after disease recurrence. 30 cases of osteonecrosis of the jaw in the ZOL arm (1.8%) have occurred.

Conclusions

Disease benefits with adjuvant ZOL in postmenopausal early breast cancer persist at 10 years of follow-up. The biomarker MAF identified a patient subgroup that derived benefit from ZOL irrespective of menopausal status.

Calcium Sulphate/Hydroxyapatite Carrier for Bone Formation in the Femoral Neck of Osteoporotic Rats

This study investigated bone regeneration in the femoral neck canal of osteoporotic rats using a novel animal model. A calcium sulphate (CS)/hydroxyapatite (HA) carrier was used to deliver a bisphosphonate, zoledronic acid (ZA), locally, with or without added recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). Twenty-eight-week-old ovariectomized Sprague–Dawley rats were used. A 1 mm diameter and 8 mm long defect was created in the femoral neck by drilling from the lateral cortex in the axis of the femoral neck, leaving the surrounding cortex intact. Three treatment groups and one control group were used: (1) CS/HA alone, (2) CS/HA + ZA (10 μg) (3) CS/HA + ZA (10 μg) + rhBMP-2 (4 μg), and (4) empty defect (control). The bone formation was assessed at 4 weeks post surgery using in vivo micro computed tomography (micro-CT). At 8 weeks post surgery, the animals were sacrificed, and both defect and contralateral femurs were subjected to micro-CT, mechanical testing, and histology. Micro-CT results showed that the combination of CS/HA with ZA or ZA + rhBMP-2 increased the bone formation in the defect when compared to the other groups and to the contralateral hips. Evidence of new dense bone formation in CS/HA + ZA and CS/HA + ZA + rhBMP-2 groups was seen histologically. Mechanical testing results showed no differences in the load to fracture between the treatments in either of the treated or contralateral legs. The CS/HA biomaterial can be used as a carrier for ZA and rhBMP-2 to regenerate bone in the femoral neck canal of osteoporotic rats.

Adjuvant zoledronic acid reduces fractures in breast cancer patients; an AZURE (BIG 01/04) study

The fracture impact of adjuvant bisphosphonates in breast cancer is not defined with most trials reporting changes in bone mineral density as a surrogate. The AZURE trial (ISRCTN79831382) evaluated the impact of adjuvant zoledronic acid (ZOL) on fractures. The AZURE trial is an academic, multi-centre, randomised phase III study evaluating the addition of ZOL 4 mg to standard therapy (neo/adjuvant chemotherapy and/or endocrine therapy) for 5 years (administered by intravenous (iv) infusion every 3-4 weeks for 6 doses, then 3 monthly × 8 and 6 monthly × 5) in patients with stage II/III early breast cancer. Fracture data collected as part of skeletal-related adverse event reporting were analysed after a median of 84.2 months of follow-up and 966 disease-free survival (DFS) events. We assessed number of fractures, time-to-first fracture and the incidence of fractures before and after disease recurrence. Two hundred forty-four patients reported ≥1 fracture, 140 (8.3%) in the control arm (171 fractures) and 104 (6.2%) in the ZOL arm (120 fractures). Of the 291 fractures reported, 207 fractures occurred in the absence of recurrence (control 111, ZOL 96), 80 after recurrence (control 59, ZOL 21). The 5-year fracture rate was reduced from 5.9% (95%CI 4.8, 7.1%; control) to 3.8% (95%CI 2.9, 4.7%) with ZOL. ZOL significantly increased time-to-first fracture (HR 0.69, 95%CI 0.53-0.90; P = 0.0053) but the majority of fracture prevention benefit occurred after a DFS event (HR 0.3; 95%CI 0.17, 0.53; P < 0.001). Fracture benefits from ZOL were similar across menopausal sub-groups. In conclusion, adjuvant ZOL reduced the risk of clinical fractures, the majority of this protection occurred after disease recurrence.

Replacing zoledronic acid with denosumab is a risk factor for developing osteonecrosis of the jaw

OBJECTIVE

Intravenous zoledronic acid (ZA) is often replaced with subcutaneous denosumab in patients with bone metastatic cancer. Despite their different pharmacologic mechanisms of action, both denosumab and ZA are effective in bone metastasis but cause osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) as a side effect. ZA persists in the body almost indefinitely, whereas denosumab does not persist for long periods. This study evaluated the risks of developing ONJ when replacing ZA with denosumab.

STUDY DESIGN

In total, 161 Japanese patients administered ZA for bone metastatic cancer were enrolled in this single-center, retrospective, observational study. The risk of developing ONJ was evaluated by logistic regression analysis using the following factors: age, gender, cancer type, angiogenesis inhibitors, steroids, and replacement of ZA with denosumab.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients (10.6%) developed ONJ. Multiple regression analysis indicated a significant difference in rate of ONJ associated with replacement of ZA with denosumab (odds ratio = 3.81; 95% confidence interval 1.04-13.97; P = .043).

CONCLUSIONS

Replacing ZA with denosumab is a risk factor for the development of ONJ. Both binding of bisphosphonate to bone and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κ B ligand inhibition could additively increase the risk of ONJ. We bring the replacement of ZA with denosumab to the attention of clinical oncologists.

Zoledronic acid increases the prevalence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in a dose dependent manner in rice rats (Oryzomys palustris) with localized periodontitis

OBJECTIVE

Investigate role of dose/duration of zoledronic acid (ZOL), a powerful anti-resorptive (pAR), on prevalence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in rice rats (Oryzomys palustris), a species with natural susceptibility to food impaction-induced localized periodontitis (FILP). We hypothesize that ZOL induces MRONJ lesions in rice rats with FILP, and that the prevalence of MRONJ rises with increasing dose and duration of ZOL treatment.

METHODS

We performed a toxicology experiment with clinically-relevant doses of ZOL in female rats (N=230) fed standard (STD) rodent chow. At age 4weeks (baseline), 12 rats were necropsied. The rest were randomized into five groups that began to receive 0, 8, 20, 50 or 125μg/kg ZOL IV/q 4weeks. After 12, 18, 24 and 30weeks, subgroups (N=9-16) from each of the dose groups were necropsied. High-resolution macroscopic photos of all jaw quadrants were given a gross quadrant grade (GQG) (0-4 or MRONJ) that classified FILP lesion severity and determined presence of gross MRONJ. Quadrants with GQG≥1 were examined histopathologically. Logistic regression analysis (ZOL dose/duration) of MRONJ prevalence was completed.

RESULTS

We found: 1) 75% of 0μg/kg ZOL rats developed FILP lesions; 2) baseline rats and rats treated with 0μg/kg ZOL had no MRONJ; 3) 29 gross MRONJ cases were identified; 4) all gross MRONJ cases were confirmed histopathologically by the observation of exposed necrotic bone, and 53 new cases were discovered (total=82); 5) ZOL dose (P<0.001), but not duration (P=0.326), was a significant predictor of MRONJ prevalence; 6) 13% prevalence of gross MRONJ among all rats, with 22% prevalence among rats exposed to ZOL oncologic doses (20-125μg/kg); 7) 38% prevalence of histopathologic MRONJ among all rats, with 73% prevalence among rats exposed to ZOL oncologic doses.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first experiment to show a dose response relationship between clinically relevant doses of ZOL and MRONJ prevalence.

Bisphosphonates and other bone agents for breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Bone is the most common site of metastatic disease associated with breast cancer (BC). Bisphosphonates inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, and novel targeted therapies such as denosumab inhibit other key bone metabolism pathways. We have studied these agents in both early breast cancer and advanced breast cancer settings. This is an update of the review originally published in 2002 and subsequently updated in 2005 and 2012.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of bisphosphonates and other bone agents in addition to anti-cancer treatment: (i) in women with early breast cancer (EBC); (ii) in women with advanced breast cancer without bone metastases (ABC); and (iii) in women with metastatic breast cancer and bone metastases (BCBM).

SEARCH METHODS

In this review update, we searched Cochrane Breast Cancer's Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, the World Health Organization's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP) and ClinicalTrials.gov on 19 September 2016.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing: (a) one treatment with a bisphosphonate/bone-acting agent with the same treatment without a bisphosphonate/bone-acting agent; (b) treatment with one bisphosphonate versus treatment with a different bisphosphonate; (c) treatment with a bisphosphonate versus another bone-acting agent of a different mechanism of action (e.g. denosumab); and (d) immediate treatment with a bisphosphonate/bone-acting agent versus delayed treatment of the same bisphosphonate/bone-acting agent.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted data, and assessed risk of bias and quality of the evidence. The primary outcome measure was bone metastases for EBC and ABC, and a skeletal-related event (SRE) for BCBM. We derived risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous outcomes and the meta-analyses used random-effects models. Secondary outcomes included overall survival and disease-free survival for EBC; we derived hazard ratios (HRs) for these time-to-event outcomes where possible. We collected toxicity and quality-of-life information. GRADE was used to assess the quality of evidence for the most important outcomes in each treatment setting.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 44 RCTs involving 37,302 women.In women with EBC, bisphosphonates were associated with a reduced risk of bone metastases compared to placebo/no bisphosphonate (RR 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.03, 11 studies; 15,005 women; moderate-quality evidence with no significant heterogeneity). Bisphosphonates provided an overall survival benefit with time-to-event data (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.99; P = 0.04; 9 studies; 13,949 women; high-quality evidence with evidence of heterogeneity). Subgroup analysis by menopausal status showed a survival benefit from bisphosphonates in postmenopausal women (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.90; P = 0.001; 4 studies; 6048 women; high-quality evidence with no evidence of heterogeneity) but no survival benefit for premenopausal women (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.22; P = 0.78; 2 studies; 3501 women; high-quality evidence with no heterogeneity). There was evidence of no effect of bisphosphonates on disease-free survival (HR 0.94, 95% 0.87 to 1.02; P = 0.13; 7 studies; 12,578 women; high-quality evidence with significant heterogeneity present) however subgroup analyses showed a disease-free survival benefit from bisphosphonates in postmenopausal women only (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.91; P < 0.001; 7 studies; 8314 women; high-quality evidence with no heterogeneity). Bisphosphonates did not significantly reduce the incidence of fractures when compared to placebo/no bisphosphonates (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.08, P = 0.13, 6 studies, 7602 women; moderate-quality evidence due to wide confidence intervals). We await mature overall survival and disease-free survival results for denosumab trials.In women with ABC without clinically evident bone metastases, there was no evidence of an effect of bisphosphonates on bone metastases (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.43; P = 0.86; 3 studies; 330 women; moderate-quality evidence with no heterogeneity) or overall survival (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.09; P = 0.28; 3 studies; 330 women; high-quality evidence with no heterogeneity) compared to placebo/no bisphosphonates however the confidence intervals were wide. One study reported a trend towards an extended period of time without a SRE with bisphosphonate compared to placebo (low-quality evidence). One study reported quality of life and there was no apparent difference in scores between bisphosphonate and placebo (moderate-quality evidence).In women with BCBM, bisphosphonates reduced the SRE risk by 14% (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.95; P = 0.003; 9 studies; 2810 women; high-quality evidence with evidence of heterogeneity) compared with placebo/no bisphosphonates. This benefit persisted when administering either intravenous or oral bisphosphonates versus placebo. Bisphosphonates delayed the median time to a SRE with a median ratio of 1.43 (95% CI 1.29 to 1.58; P < 0.00001; 9 studies; 2891 women; high-quality evidence with no heterogeneity) and reduced bone pain (in 6 out of 11 studies; moderate-quality evidence) compared to placebo/no bisphosphonate. Treatment with bisphosphonates did not appear to affect overall survival (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.11; P = 0.85; 7 studies; 1935 women; moderate-quality evidence with significant heterogeneity). Quality-of-life scores were slightly better with bisphosphonates than placebo at comparable time points (in three out of five studies; moderate-quality evidence) however scores decreased during the course of the studies. Denosumab reduced the risk of developing a SRE compared with bisphosphonates by 22% (RR 0.78, 0.72 to 0.85; P < 0.001; 3 studies, 2345 women). One study reported data on overall survival and observed no difference in survival between denosumab and bisphosphonate.Reported toxicities across all settings were generally mild. Osteonecrosis of the jaw was rare, occurring less than 0.5% in the adjuvant setting (high-quality evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

For women with EBC, bisphosphonates reduce the risk of bone metastases and provide an overall survival benefit compared to placebo or no bisphosphonates. There is preliminary evidence suggestive that bisphosphonates provide an overall survival and disease-free survival benefit in postmenopausal women only when compared to placebo or no bisphosphonate. This was not a planned subgroup for these early trials, and we await the completion of new large clinical trials assessing benefit for postmenopausal women. For women with BCBM, bisphosphonates reduce the risk of developing SREs, delay the median time to an SRE, and appear to reduce bone pain compared to placebo or no bisphosphonate.

Interventions for managing medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw

BACKGROUND

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a severe adverse reaction experienced by some individuals to certain medicines commonly used in the treatment of cancer and osteoporosis (e.g. bisphosphonates, denosumab and antiangiogenic agents) and involves the progressive destruction of bone in the mandible or maxilla. Depending on the drug, its dosage, and the duration of exposure, the occurrence of this adverse drug reaction may be rare (e.g. following the oral administration of bisphosphonate or denosumab treatments for osteoporosis, or antiangiogenic agent-targeted cancer treatment) or common (e.g. following intravenous bisphosphonate for cancer treatment). MRONJ is associated with significant morbidity, adversely affects quality of life (QoL), and is challenging to treat.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of interventions versus no treatment, placebo, or an active control for the prophylaxis of MRONJ in people exposed to antiresorptive or antiangiogenic drugs.To assess the effects of non-surgical or surgical interventions (either singly or in combination) versus no treatment, placebo, or an active control for the treatment of people with manifest MRONJ.

SEARCH METHODS

Cochrane Oral Health's Information Specialist searched the following databases: Cochrane Oral Health's Trials Register (to 23 November 2016), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (the Cochrane Library, 2016, Issue 10), MEDLINE Ovid (1946 to 23 November 2016), and Embase Ovid (23 May 2016 to 23 November 2016). The US National Institutes of Health Trials Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov) and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched for ongoing trials. No restrictions were placed on language or publication status when searching the electronic databases; however, the search of Embase was restricted to the last six months due to the Cochrane Embase Project to identify all clinical trials and add them to CENTRAL.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing one modality of intervention with another for the prevention or treatment of MRONJ. For 'prophylaxis of MRONJ', the primary outcome of interest was the incidence of MRONJ; secondary outcomes were QoL, time-to-event, and rate of complications and side effects of the intervention. For 'treatment of established MRONJ', the primary outcome of interest was healing of MRONJ; secondary outcomes were QoL, recurrence, and rate of complications and side effects of the intervention.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened the search results, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias in the included studies. For dichotomous outcomes, we reported the risk ratio (RR) (or rate ratio) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

MAIN RESULTS

We included five RCTs (1218 participants) in the review. Three trials focused on the prophylaxis of MRONJ. Two trials investigated options for the treatment of established MRONJ. The RCTs included only participants treated with bisphosphonates and, thus, did not cover the entire spectrum of medications associated with MRONJ. Prophylaxis of MRONJOne trial compared standard care with regular dental examinations in three-month intervals and preventive treatments (including antibiotics before dental extractions and the use of techniques for wound closure that avoid exposure and contamination of bone) in men with metastatic prostate cancer treated with zoledronic acid. The intervention seemed to lower the risk of MRONJ: RR 0.10; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.39 (253 participants; low-quality evidence). Secondary outcomes were not evaluated.As dentoalveolar surgery is considered a common predisposing event for developing MRONJ, one trial investigated the effect of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) for preventing MRONJ in people with cancer undergoing dental extractions. There was insufficient evidence to support or refute a benefit of PRGF on MRONJ incidence when compared with standard treatment (RR 0.08, 95% CI 0.00 to 1.51; 176 participants; very low-quality evidence). Secondary outcomes were not reported. In another trial comparing wound closure by primary intention with wound closure by secondary intention after dental extractions in people treated with oral bisphosphonates (700 participants), no cases of intraoperative complications or postoperative MRONJ were observed. QoL was not investigated. Treatment of MRONJOne trial analysed hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment used in addition to standard care (antiseptic rinses, antibiotics, and surgery) compared with standard care alone. HBO in addition to standard care did not significantly improve healing from MRONJ compared with standard care alone (at last follow-up: RR 1.56; 95% CI 0.77 to 3.18; 46 participants included in the analysis; very low-quality evidence). QoL data were presented qualitatively as intragroup comparisons; hence, an effect estimate of treatment on QoL was not possible. Other secondary outcomes were not reported.The other RCT found no significant difference between autofluorescence- and tetracycline fluorescence-guided sequestrectomy for the surgical treatment of MRONJ at any timepoint (at one-year follow-up: RR 1.05; 95% CI 0.86 to 1.30; 34 participants included in the analysis; very low-quality evidence). Secondary outcomes were not reported.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Prophylaxis of MRONJOne open-label RCT provided some evidence that dental examinations in three-month intervals and preventive treatments may be more effective than standard care for reducing the incidence of MRONJ in individuals taking intravenous bisphosphonates for advanced cancer. We assessed the certainty of the evidence to be low.There is insufficient evidence to either claim or refute a benefit of either of the interventions tested for prophylaxis of MRONJ (i.e. PRGF inserted into the postextraction alveolus during dental extractions, and wound closure by primary or secondary intention after dental extractions). Treatment of MRONJAvailable evidence is insufficient to either claim or refute a benefit for hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct to conventional therapy. There is also insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about autofluorescence-guided versus tetracycline fluorescence-guided bone surgery.

Intraoral Vacuum-Assisted Closure Therapy-A Pilot Study in Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

PURPOSE

For approximately 2 decades, vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy has been widely used for the management of complex wounds and soft tissue defects on the external surface of the body. As yet, this technique has not been studied for intraoral wound management. Therefore, this study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of intraoral VAC therapy in patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

After successful construction of an intraoral device providing sufficient airtight sealing, individually manufactured appliances were used in a prospective clinical trial of 3 patients using the VAC therapy system.

RESULTS

Intraoral VAC therapy showed some success and did not produce serious side effects. Different positive effects, such as formation of new granulation tissue, cessation of pain, and pus suppuration, were found.

CONCLUSION

This prospective proof-of-principle study showed that intraoral VAC therapy is feasible and safe. It could play a role in the management of MRONJ and other types of intraoral wounds (eg, osteoradionecrosis, postoperative wound dehiscence, etc).

Use of Adjuvant Bisphosphonates and Other Bone-Modifying Agents in Breast Cancer: A Cancer Care Ontario and American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline

Purpose To make recommendations regarding the use of bisphosphonates and other bone-modifying agents as adjuvant therapy for patients with breast cancer. Methods Cancer Care Ontario and ASCO convened a Working Group and Expert Panel to develop evidence-based recommendations informed by a systematic review of the literature. Results Adjuvant bisphosphonates were found to reduce bone recurrence and improve survival in postmenopausal patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer. In this guideline, postmenopausal includes patients with natural menopause or that induced by ovarian suppression or ablation. Absolute benefit is greater in patients who are at higher risk of recurrence, and almost all trials were conducted in patients who also received systemic therapy. Most studies evaluated zoledronic acid or clodronate, and data are extremely limited for other bisphosphonates. While denosumab was found to reduce fractures, long-term survival data are still required. Recommendations It is recommended that, if available, zoledronic acid (4 mg intravenously every 6 months) or clodronate (1,600 mg/d orally) be considered as adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal patients with breast cancer who are deemed candidates for adjuvant systemic therapy. Further research comparing different bone-modifying agents, doses, dosing intervals, and durations is required. Risk factors for osteonecrosis of the jaw and renal impairment should be assessed, and any pending dental or oral health problems should be dealt with prior to starting treatment. Data for adjuvant denosumab look promising but are currently insufficient to make any recommendation. Use of these agents to reduce fragility fractures in patients with low bone mineral density is beyond the scope of the guideline. Recommendations are not meant to restrict such use of bone-modifying agents in these situations. Additional information at www.asco.org/breast-cancer-adjuvant-bisphosphonates-guideline , www.asco.org/guidelineswiki , https://www.cancercareontario.ca/guidelines-advice/types-of-cancer/breast .

Osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with ziv-aflibercept

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) has been associated with medications that include bisphosphonates (BPs), denosumab, bevacizumab and sunitinib. Ziv-aflibercept is a recombinant human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor which has been used to treat patients with various advanced solid tumors. We report three patients without a history of the use of medications known to cause MRONJ presenting with jaw osteonecrosis typical for MRONJ following therapy with ziv-aflibercept. All patients had metastatic gastrointestinal cancer treated with ziv-aflibercept and were evaluated for MRONJ because of exposed bone in the oral cavity. None of the patients had received antiresorptive therapies or any other medication known to cause MRONJ, and none had received radiation therapy to the jaws. Patients were aged 43, 51, 63 and all were males. Patients received 7, 16 and 23 cycles of ziv-aflibercept treatment and developed necrotic bone. All three patients presented with mandibular involvement, with two reporting pain. Patients were managed with anti-microbial mouth rinse, antibiotics and non-surgical sequestrectomy and followed up for 1.5, 2, and 2 months; two patients became asymptomatic while one patient continued to have pain. These three reported patients with a history of ziv-aflibercept therapy and no reported use of other medications known to cause MRONJ developed exposed necrotic bone of the jaw. We believe that ziv-aflibercept is another medication that can potentially cause MRONJ probably through its anti-VEGF activity, similar to bevacizumab and sunitinib.

Diseases having an influence on inhibition of angiogenesis as risk factors of osteonecrosis of the jaw

Objectives

The objective of this study was to retrospectively investigate the association of diseases having an influence on inhibition of angiogenesis such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, hypercholesterolemia, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the development of osteonecrosis of the jaws.

Materials and Methods

The 135 patients were allocated into 4 groups of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) group (1A); non-BRONJ group (1B); osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) group (2A); and control group (2B), according to histologic results and use of bisphosphonate. This retrospective study was conducted with patients who were treated in one institute from 2012 to 2013. Fisher's exact test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the odds ratios of diseases having an influence on inhibition of angiogenesis for development of ONJ.

Results

The effects of diabetes and hypertension were not statistically significant on development of ONJ. When not considering bisphosphonate use, RA exhibited a high odds ratio of 3.23 (P=0.094), while hyperlipidemia showed an odds ratio of 2.10 (P=0.144) for development of ONJ. More than one disease that had an influence on inhibition of angiogenesis showed a statistically significant odds ratio of 2.54 (P=0.012) for development of ONJ.

Conclusion

Patients without diseases having an influence on inhibition of angiogenesis were at less risk for developing ONJ.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell sheet therapy for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in a rat model

Bisphosphonates (BPs) inhibit bone resorption and are frequently used to treat osteoporosis, bone metastasis, and other conditions that result in bone fragility. However, numerous studies have reported that BPs are closely related to the development of osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ), which is an intractable disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that intravenous infusion of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is effective for the treatment of BRONJ-like disease models. However, the stability of injected MSCs is relatively low. In this study, the protein level of vascular endothelial growth factor in BP-treated MSCs was significantly lower than untreated-MSCs. The mRNA expression levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand and osteoprotegerin were significantly decreased in BP-treated MSCs. We developed a tissue-engineered cell sheet of allogeneic enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-labeled MSCs and investigated the effect of MSC sheet transplantation in a BRONJ-like rat model. The MSC sheet group showed wound healing in most cases compared with the control group and MSC intravenous injection group (occurrence of bone exposure: 12.5% compared with 80% and 100%, respectively). Immunofluorescence staining revealed that EGFP-positive cells were localized around newly formed blood vessels in the transplanted sub-mucosa at 2weeks after transplantation. Blood vessels were significantly observed in the MSC sheet group compared to in the control group and MSC intravenous injection group (106±9.6 compared with 40±5.3 and 62±10.2 vessels/mm(2), respectively). These results suggest that allogeneic MSC sheet transplantation is a promising alternative approach for treating BRONJ.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Bisphosphonates are frequently used to treat osteoporosis, bone metastasis of various cancers, and other diseases. However, bisphosphonate related-osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is an intractable disease because it often recurs after surgery or is exacerbated following conservative treatment. Therefore, an alternative approach for treating BRONJ is needed. In this study, we developed a bone marrow-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) sheet to treat BRONJ and investigated the effect of MSC sheet transplantation in a rat model of BRONJ-like disease. The MSC sheet transplantation group showed wound healing in most cases, while only minimal healing was observed in the control group and MSC intravenous injection group. Our results suggest that the MSC sheet is a promising alternative approach for the treatment of BRONJ.

Denosumab Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw with Spontaneous Necrosis of the Soft Palate: Report of a Life Threatening Case

Bisphosphonates have been used for years in the treatment of patients with distant bony metastasis and in the prevention of osteoporosis. One of main side effects of these medications is the development of bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) in a small subset of patients. A new class of medications with a shorter half-life, known as receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) inhibitors, was introduced with the hopes of avoiding this side effect. However, reports of osteonecrosis of the jaw after the use of RANKL inhibitors have also been documented. We report on a patient who developed a life threatening osteonecrosis of the jaw with sepsis shortly after switching from a bisphosphonate to a RANKL inhibitor for osteoporosis treatment. This patient developed several soft tissue defects including spontaneous necrosis of the soft palate. To our knowledge this is the first time this presentation has been described.

Evaluation of surgical outcome and influencing risk factors in patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws

PURPOSE

Surgical treatment of the medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is still challenging. We examined the outcome of the resection of osteonecrotic lesions and the influence of potential risk factors on the operative success.

METHODS

Seventy six surgical interventions on 40 patients were evaluated in a prospective design with a mean follow-up of 55 weeks. Primary endpoints were: (i) maintenance of the mucosal closure and (ii) decrease of MRONJ stage. Influential variables included preoperative duration, location and diameter of MRONJ, duration and change of antiresorptive therapy, presence of actinomyces species.

RESULTS

Only in 27.6% of cases long-term maintenance of the mucosal closure was achieved. However, stage II patients decreased to stage I in 81% after surgery (p < 0.01) and stage III patients improved in 83% of cases (OR = 8.08; p = 0.07). Stage I patients profited only in 38% by surgical intervention. MRONJ recurrence after surgery was associated with extended preoperative MRONJ duration (p = 0.015). There was no significance of further influential variables, but MRONJ of the upper jaw seems prognostically more favorable.

CONCLUSION

Advanced stages of MRONJ benefit from surgical treatment, whereas stage I diseases may also be treated conservatively. An early intervention reduces the risk of recurrence.

Patients Receiving Parenteral Bisphosphonates for Malignant Disease and Having Developed an Atypical Femoral Fracture Are at Risk of Concomitant Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: An Evidence-Based Review

PURPOSE

The risk of developing concomitant medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in patients who have sustained an atypical femoral fracture (AFF) in association with parental administration of a bisphosphonate osteoclastic inhibitor medication for malignant disease is unclear. Published data were searched to determine the prevalence of these concomitant adverse medication events, if any.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review of published case series in the PubMed database was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of patients having a concomitant history of AFF and MRONJ. The data were analyzed to provide prevalence rates of these events from the literature.

RESULTS

Two case series were identified that delineated the risk (25 and 33%, respectively) of concomitant development of MRONJ and AFF in recipients of parenteral bisphosphonate medication administered for malignant disease.

CONCLUSION

The published data suggest that approximately 30% of patients receiving parenteral bisphosphonates and having sustained an AFF could develop comorbid MRONJ.

Evaluation of clinical parameters influencing the development of bone metastasis in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The development of metastases is a negative prognostic parameter for the clinical outcome of breast cancer. Bone constitutes the first site of distant metastases for many affected women. The purpose of this retrospective multicentre study was to evaluate if and how different variables such as primary tumour stage, biological and histological subtype, age at primary diagnosis, tumour size, the number of affected lymph nodes as well as grading influence the development of bone-only metastases.

METHODS

This retrospective German multicentre study is based on the BRENDA collective and included 9625 patients with primary breast cancer recruited from 1992 to 2008. In this analysis, we investigated a subgroup of 226 patients with bone-only metastases. Association between bone-only relapse and clinico-pathological risk factors was assessed in multivariate models using the tree-building algorithms "exhausted CHAID (Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detectors)" and CART(Classification and Regression Tree), as well as radial basis function networks (RBF-net), feedforward multilayer perceptron networks (MLP) and logistic regression.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis demonstrated that breast cancer subtypes have the strongest influence on the development of bone-only metastases (χ2 = 28). 29.9 % of patients with luminal A or luminal B (ABC-patients) and 11.4 % with triple negative BC (TNBC) or HER2-overexpressing tumours had bone-only metastases (p < 0.001). Five different mathematical models confirmed this correlation. The second important risk factor is the age at primary diagnosis. Moreover, BC subcategories influence the overall survival from date of metastatic disease of patients with bone-only metastases. Patients with bone-only metastases and TNBC (p < 0.001; HR = 7.47 (95 % CI: 3.52-15.87) or HER2 overexpressing BC (p = 0.007; HR = 3.04 (95 % CI: 1.36-6.80) have the worst outcome compared to patients with luminal A or luminal B tumours and bone-only metastases.

CONCLUSION

The bottom line of different mathematical models is the prior importance of subcategories of breast cancer and the age at primary diagnosis for the appearance of osseous metastases. The primary tumour stage, histological subtype, tumour size, the number of affected lymph nodes, grading and NPI seem to have only a minor influence on the development of bone-only metastases.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: Clinical and practical guidelines

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a severe adverse drug reaction, consisting of progressive bone destruction in the maxillofacial region of patients. ONJ can be caused by two pharmacological agents: Antiresorptive (including bisphosphonates (BPs) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand inhibitors) and antiangiogenic. MRONJ pathophysiology is not completely elucidated. There are several suggested hypothesis that could explain its unique localization to the jaws: Inflammation or infection, microtrauma, altered bone remodeling or over suppression of bone resorption, angiogenesis inhibition, soft tissue BPs toxicity, peculiar biofilm of the oral cavity, terminal vascularization of the mandible, suppression of immunity, or Vitamin D deficiency. Dental screening and adequate treatment are fundamental to reduce the risk of osteonecrosis in patients under antiresorptive or antiangiogenic therapy, or before initiating the administration. The treatment of MRONJ is generally difficult and the optimal therapy strategy is still to be established. For this reason, prevention is even more important. It is suggested that a multidisciplinary team approach including a dentist, an oncologist, and a maxillofacial surgeon to evaluate and decide the best therapy for the patient. The choice between a conservative treatment and surgery is not easy, and it should be made on a case by case basis. However, the initial approach should be as conservative as possible. The most important goals of treatment for patients with established MRONJ are primarily the control of infection, bone necrosis progression, and pain. The aim of this paper is to represent the current knowledge about MRONJ, its preventive measures and management strategies.

Assessing the utility of serum C-telopeptide cross-link of type 1 collagen as a predictor of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The authors of this systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the utility of serum C-telopeptide cross-link of type 1 collagen (sCTX), a biomarker of bone resorption, as a predictor of the development of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ).

TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED

The authors searched for studies involving adult participants, written in English, and published through January 20, 2016, using the following electronic databases: the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE via PubMed, and Web of Science. They also searched Google Scholar and the reference lists of all eligible trials and reviews. They identified 16 articles that met their inclusion criteria (9 controlled studies and 7 case series). They applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. They independently extracted data in duplicate, including the characteristics of study participants, risk factors, control groups, and outcomes. They assessed risk of bias, and they resolved any disagreements between review authors through discussion.

RESULTS

A meta-analysis with 9 controlled studies revealed no significant difference in mean sCTX values between patients with BRONJ and control participants (difference in means, -31.417; 95% confidence interval [CI], -91.560 to 28.726; P = .306). A second meta-analysis with 4 studies showed no significant difference in risk of having an sCTX value below 150 picograms per milliliter for patients with BRONJ compared with control participants (risk ratio, 1.892; 95% CI, 0.636-5.626; P = .251).

CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

A systematic review of the literature with meta-analysis does not support the use of sCTX levels as a predictor of the development of BRONJ. Further prospective large sample studies are needed to understand the role of sCTX as a predictor for BRONJ.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with bisphosphonates and denosumab in osteoporosis

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical characteristics and evolution of our series of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) associated with denosumab in osteoporotic patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We present 10 new cases of MRONJ in patients receiving denosumab for osteoporosis. We describe the mean doses of denosumab, previous bisphosphonate intake, and the clinical characteristics associated with the osteonecrosis, such as local contributing factors, symptoms, and evolution after treatment.

RESULTS

The mean number of denosumab doses was 3.4 ± 2.2. In 90% of patients, there was a prior history of oral bisphosphonate intake, with a mean duration of 46.78 ± 25.11 months. The most common local factor was dental extraction (6 cases; 60%), and most cases had necrotic bone exposure (9/10, 90%). Sclerosis of the bone was the most common radiographic finding. Stage 1 was the most common ONM stage, found in 80%. 'Cure' after conservative treatments was obtained in 71.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of our cases were in the early stages of MRONJ, and the success rate after conservative treatment was high.

2015 American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Adult Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: The American Thyroid Association Guidelines Task Force on Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

BACKGROUND

Thyroid nodules are a common clinical problem, and differentiated thyroid cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent. Since the American Thyroid Association's (ATA's) guidelines for the management of these disorders were revised in 2009, significant scientific advances have occurred in the field. The aim of these guidelines is to inform clinicians, patients, researchers, and health policy makers on published evidence relating to the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer.

METHODS

The specific clinical questions addressed in these guidelines were based on prior versions of the guidelines, stakeholder input, and input of task force members. Task force panel members were educated on knowledge synthesis methods, including electronic database searching, review and selection of relevant citations, and critical appraisal of selected studies. Published English language articles on adults were eligible for inclusion. The American College of Physicians Guideline Grading System was used for critical appraisal of evidence and grading strength of recommendations for therapeutic interventions. We developed a similarly formatted system to appraise the quality of such studies and resultant recommendations. The guideline panel had complete editorial independence from the ATA. Competing interests of guideline task force members were regularly updated, managed, and communicated to the ATA and task force members.

RESULTS

The revised guidelines for the management of thyroid nodules include recommendations regarding initial evaluation, clinical and ultrasound criteria for fine-needle aspiration biopsy, interpretation of fine-needle aspiration biopsy results, use of molecular markers, and management of benign thyroid nodules. Recommendations regarding the initial management of thyroid cancer include those relating to screening for thyroid cancer, staging and risk assessment, surgical management, radioiodine remnant ablation and therapy, and thyrotropin suppression therapy using levothyroxine. Recommendations related to long-term management of differentiated thyroid cancer include those related to surveillance for recurrent disease using imaging and serum thyroglobulin, thyroid hormone therapy, management of recurrent and metastatic disease, consideration for clinical trials and targeted therapy, as well as directions for future research.

CONCLUSIONS

We have developed evidence-based recommendations to inform clinical decision-making in the management of thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. They represent, in our opinion, contemporary optimal care for patients with these disorders.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Zoledronic Acid plus Chemotherapy versus Chemotherapy Alone as Neoadjuvant Treatment of HER2-Negative Primary Breast Cancer (JONIE Study)

Purpose

Zoledronic acid (ZOL) is a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate that induces osteoclast apoptosis and inhibits bone resorption by inhibiting the mevalonate pathway. Its benefit for the prevention of skeletal complications due to bone metastases has been established. However, the antitumor efficacy of ZOL, although suggested by multiple preclinical and clinical studies, has not yet been clinically proven. We performed the present randomized Phase 2 trial to investigate the antitumor effect of ZOL with chemotherapy (CT).

Methods

Asian patients with HER2-negative invasive breast cancer were randomly assigned to either the CT or CT+ZOL (CTZ) group. One hundred and eighty-eight patients were randomized to either the CT group (n = 95) or the CTZ group (n = 93) from March 2010 to April 2012, and 180 patients were assessed. All patients received four cycles of FEC100 (fluorouracil 500 mg/m², epirubicin 100 mg/m², and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m²), followed by 12 cycles of paclitaxel at 80 mg/m² weekly. ZOL (4 mg) was administered three to four times weekly for 7 weeks to the patients in the CTZ group. The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (pCR) rate, which was defined as no invasive cancer in the breast tissue specimen. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of the study drug.

Results

This randomized controlled trial indicated that the rates of pCR in CTZ group (14.8%) was doubled to CT group (7.7%), respectively (one-sided chi-square test, p = 0.068), though the additional efficacy of zoledronic acid was not demonstrated statistically. The pCR rate in postmenopausal patients was 18.4% and 5.1% in the CTZ and CT groups, respectively (one-sided Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.071), and that in patients with triple-negative breast cancer was 35.3% and 11.8% in the CTZ and CT groups, respectively (one-sided Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.112). Thus the addition of ZOL to neoadjuvant CT has potential anticancer benefits in postmenopausal patients and patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Further investigation is warranted.

Trial Registration

University Hospital Medical Information Network. UMIN000003261.

Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy and Bone Health in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies of women. The majority of breast cancers express estrogen and/or progesterone receptors, permitting anticancer targeting strategies to reduce estrogen signaling in the cancer cells and thereby lowering the risk of breast cancer recurrence. The development of the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) tamoxifen marked a significant milestone in breast cancer care that transcended older estrogen ablative strategies such as oophorectomy and ovarian irradiation. An unintended benefit of tamoxifen in postmenopausal women was bone density preservation. The third generation of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have demonstrated superior efficacy to tamoxifen in improving disease-free survival in postmenopausal women. However, the AIs significantly increase bone resorption, reduce bone mineral density, and increase the risk of fracture above that of tamoxifen. As a consequence of this, clinical oncologists have assumed a larger role in the screening and treatment of the skeletal complications of breast cancer therapies. The key features of managing bone health in women with early stage breast cancer receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy are reviewed here.