Temporary Denosumab Discontinuation Promotes Bone Healing of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw and Minimizes the Invasiveness of Surgery: A Case Presentation

Abstract

Denosumab has proved effective at low doses in increasing bone mineral density in osteoporosis patients. In contrast to high-doses antiresorptive therapy, denosumab has a transient effect on the inhibition of the bone remodeling process, suggesting that denosumab-related osteonecrosis is a self-limiting disease, with a high curative potential of surgery when performed after a proper duration of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL) inhibitor suspension. We report the long-term clinical and radiological (Computed Tomography—CT scan) data of a patient affected by secondary osteoporosis (cancer treatment-induced bone loss—CTIBL for metastatic breast cancer) who underwent surgical treatment for stage II denosumab-related osteonecrosis of the upper maxilla 7 months after denosumab suspension. A minimally invasive approach was performed with the extraction of the first right upper molar and debridement of the surrounding alveolar bone. After surgery, the patient was followed up at three-month intervals up to 1 year, and clinical and radiological data (CT scan) were recorded at each follow-up for the early detection of signs of recurrent disease. The mucosal healing remained stable in the long term, with radiological signs of bone remodeling in the post-operative site since the 6-month follow-up. The presented case strengthens the hypothesis that denosumab induces temporary alterations of bone turnover with a predictable curative effect of minimal surgical procedures in cases of denosumab-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

1. Introduction

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) occurs more frequently in patients receiving high doses of bisphosphonates or denosumab (RANKL-inhibitor) in a monotherapy schedule [1].

At low doses (60 mg every six months), denosumab (DNB) has proved effective in increasing the bone mineral density in osteoporosis patients. Despite the highest incidence of MRONJ still being associated to bisphosphonates (BP), recent observations on low-dose DNB-induced ONJ are emerging in osteoporotic patients [2,3].

Although the pathogenesis of DNB-induced ONJ is not fully clarified, the inhibition of osteoclastic activity on the jawbone resulting in the over suppression of bone turnover is the main substantial hypothesis [4].

In contrast to bisphosphonates, DNB acts primarily as a circulating protein without sustained binding to bone surfaces, resulting in a transient effect on the inhibition of the bone remodeling process [5].

It has been observed that bone remodeling dramatically recovers after a proper amount of time (seven to eight months) of RANKL inhibitor suspension [6,7], reducing the effect of the DNB cumulative dosage on the risk of ONJ development in the presence of oral triggers (dental/periodontal infection or oral surgery) [8].

Accordingly, it has been suggested that DNB-related ONJ is a time-dependent process with potential self-limitation after drug suspension [7].

In this scenario, the curative potential of surgery in patients affected by DNB-related ONJ is likely to be increased as compared with bisphosphonate-related ONJ, when performed after the proper duration for the circulating dose decline.

Currently, standard medical care for MRONJ is still lacking, along with evidence about the most effective treatment strategies [9,10].

Stage-dependent strategies to treat MRONJ have been originally proposed based on a clinical classification system and can be divided into medical and surgical treatments [11].

The suggested aim of treatment for mild to moderate disease (stages 1 and 2, respectively) is the control of local symptoms and infection. Surgical treatment (bone resection) is mainly reserved for advanced (stage 3) and refractory disease.

The medical treatments that are effective in the control of signs and symptoms of MRONJ are systemic antibiotics, the use of antibacterial mouth rinses (e.g., chlorhexidine) and the maintenance of good oral hygiene. Additionally, superficial debridement of exposed bony spicula can improve patient discomfort, especially at an early disease stage [10,11,12].

However, a high recurrence rate with impaired mucosal healing has been observed following medical treatment, resulting in prolonged therapies with poor patients’ quality of life [12,13].

Over the recent years, the role of surgery has been increasingly emphasized as an effective strategy for long-term healing and disease control [14,15].

Nonetheless, disease-stage strategies have been progressively modified with the introduction of a clinico-radiological staging system where both medical and surgical treatments are provided for each MRONJ stage on the basis of the real disease extent at computed tomography [16,17,18].

However, the strongest data are mainly provided for bisphosphonate-induced ONJ, with, at present, little evidence for denosumab-related ONJ.

We report the 1-year clinical and radiological follow-up of a breast cancer patient with cancer treatment-induced bone loss (CTIBL), who had been surgically treated for DNB-related osteonecrosis of the upper maxilla seven months after the last dose of DNB.

2. Case Presentation

A 54 year old women was referred to our Regional Centre at the Unit of Maxillofacial Surgery in Padua in February 2020 with spontaneous bone sequestration three months after a periodontal infection of the upper right first molar.

Her medical history was significant for non-metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer diagnosed in 2018. She was initially treated with surgery and local radiotherapy, followed by risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and long-term adjuvant therapy with aromatase inhibitors.

In September 2019, she completed a 2-year schedule of denosumab (60 mg s.c., every six months) for the prevention of cancer treatment induced bone loss (CTIBL). She received a total of four DNB injections with a significant improvement of the bone mineral density. She had no history of bisphosphonate therapy or radiation therapy of the head and neck.

In December 2019, she complained of moderate pain in the posterior region of her right upper maxilla. She was initially treated with antibiotic therapy (oral amoxicillin 1 g. twice/day) without pain relief and scheduled for root canal treatment of the first upper right molar. In the meanwhile, spontaneous bone sequestration occurred at that site a few days later. The bone sequester was sent for a histological examination, which confirmed the presence of bone necrosis. Root canal treatment was consequently waived, and the patient was referred to our center.

At the first consultation at the outpatient clinic of the Regional Centre for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Medication and Radiation-related Bone Diseases of the Head and Neck, she presented with a painless probing bone fistula in the site of the previous bone sequestration. Mild inflammation with recession of the surrounding gingiva was observed in the absence of purulent discharge. The first upper right molar was stable without decay or fracture. No other signs were detected in the oral cavity (Figure 1).

The panoramic radiograph showed a focal sclerosis of the alveolar bone surrounding the first right molar and a thickening of the lamina dura (Figure 2).

At computed tomography (CT), cortical erosion and widening of the periodontal space were detected. A focal increased trabecular bone density with loss of trabecular architecture was also detected around the alveolar bone. The radiological bone changes mainly involved the area of the first right molar but also extended to the alveolar bone of the second molar. The thickening of the maxillary sinus membrane was suggestive of a process involving the entire bone height (Figure 3a,b).

The clinical and radiological signs were consistent with the diagnosis of stage IIa DNB-related ONJ according to the SICMF-SIPMO classification [17,18].

After consultation with the rheumatologist, in the presence of normal circulating biomarkers of bone mineral density, it was decided to proceed with the surgical treatment of the MRONJ site and delay DNB injection until complete mucosal healing.

On April 2021, seven months after the last dose of DNB, the patient underwent surgery. Extraction of the first right upper molar and curettage of the surrounding alveolar bone was performed. Wound closure was achieved with the elevation of a full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap. During surgery, multiple bone marrow biopsies were collected for histological examination. A wide-spectrum 7-day cycle of oral antibiotic therapy (Amoxicillin–Clavulanic acid 1g tid, associated with Metronidazole 500 m tid) was administered in the post-operative course.

After surgery, the patient was followed up at three-month intervals up to one year, and clinical and radiological data (CT) were recorded at each follow-up for the early detection of clinical and radiological signs of a recurrent disease.

The post-operative course was uneventful with pain control. Mucosal healing was fully achieved within two weeks and remained stable at the 1-year follow-up.

No frank histological findings of bone necrosis were observed in the bone specimens collected during surgery. Interestingly, alveolar bone samples showed aspects of physiologic cellularity and microarchitecture (Figure 4).

The patient restarted DNB therapy 10 months after surgery when circulating biomarkers were critical for low bone mineral density (CTIBL).

At the 6-month post-operative CT scan, new bone formation was observed in the alveolar socket of the first right upper molar, with a regular trabecular pattern. No signs of bone marrow sclerosis were detected at the right upper molar area (Figure 5a).

At the 1-year CT scan, no bone alterations were present (Figure 5b).

3. Discussion

The presented case strengthens the hypothesis that temporary discontinuation of denosumab, when appropriate, can facilitate bone healing and reduce the invasiveness of surgery in patients with denosumab-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

At present, the pathogenetic mechanism of DNB-related jawbone necrosis is not fully understood, and no clear evidence is available on either the efficacy of preventive drug suspension or the proper timing of this approach [12].

Recently, MRONJ treatment indications have been grouped based on the general agreement that the clinical course of disease differs between cancer and non-cancer patients receiving high- and low-dose antiresorptive treatment regimens, respectively [8,17].

In general, cancer patients are addressed to extensive surgical procedures owing to the more severe evolution of the disease when compared with osteoporotic patients, irrespective of the disease stage [8,17,19].

In patients affected by DNB-related ONJ under therapy for cancer induced bone fragility (CTIBL), clear indications on ONJ management strategies are still lacking.

On the one hand, the treatment indication should be tailored to these patients so as to consider them as high-risk patients as a result of the primary cancer.

For this reason, in the case presented, the bone involvement (stage II ONJ) provided the indication for the segmental resection of the diseased bone according to the treatment strategies based on the most recent MRONJ staging system [17,18,19].

On the other hand, the patient was administered a low-dose DNB schedule for a CTIBL condition, and this cumulative dosage has proved to have limited effects on bone tissue due to DNB pharmacokinetics [5,8].

Nevertheless, the time-dependent effect of DNB on bone suggested that DNB-related ONJ is a self-limiting process resulting from local reparative mechanism activation after drug cessation [7].

Based on this assumption, it has been recently suggested that surgery required for oral conditions might reasonably be performed in a protective time frame (five to seven months) between the last and subsequent DNB dose [8].

Moreover, in DNB-related ONJ, the reactivation of bone remodeling after 7–8 months of drug suspension likely limits the extension of the bone pathological involvement.

Consequently, in these cases, a less invasive surgical procedure, when performed during the protective interval of drug cessation, has the potential to be curative, resulting in a reduction of the burden of surgery in these patients.

Secondly, favoring management strategies with curative purpose in DNB-ONJ patients provided the oncologist with the possibility to ultimately continue the therapy for the control of a cancer-related condition and to improve the patient’s quality of life.

4. Conclusions

Within its limitations, the presented case focuses attention on the need for a careful evaluation of patients as well as drug-related factors in the choice of denosumab-related ONJ treatment, balancing together with the drug prescribers the best risk/benefit ratio of different treatment sequences. Well-designed cohort studies are certainly awaited to strengthen the little evidence available so far.