A new computerized tomography classification to evaluate response to Denosumab in giant cell tumors in the extremities

Comparing clinical outcomes between extended curettage and wide resection in Enneking stage 3 giant cell tumor of bone

PURPOSE

Our objectives were (1) to compare the recurrence, metastases, and complication rates of patients with Enneking stage 3 GCTB who underwent extended curettage vs wide resection and (2) examine the factors which might influence surgical options for each patient.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with Enneking stage 3 GCTB from January 2006-December 2015. Extended curettage was performed in patients in whom there was a moderate expansile lesion, minimal/no articular cartilage damage, and less than 50% of cortical deformation compared to its circumference from a CT scan/MRI. The percentages of cortical deformation were collected. Surgical complications, recurrence, and metastatic rates were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were 28 extended curettage and 41 wide resections. The mean percentages of cortical deformation compared to circumference were 52.6% (range, 23.9-81.9%) and 91.6% (range, 52.1-100%)(P < 0.01) for the curettage and wide resection groups, respectively. There were three recurrences, 2/28 (7.1%) from the curettage group and 1/41 (2.4%) from the resection group (P = 0.56). There were no cases of pulmonary metastasis. There were two complications in the curettage group and five complications in the resection group.

CONCLUSION

Both extended curettage and wide resection are useful methods to treat Enneking stage 3 GCTB. Extended curettage with proper technique is a viable option showing no difference in local recurrence rate and potentially fewer complications. Preference to do extended curettage in patients in whom when the articular cartilage has minimal or no destruction, a moderate expansile lesion and the cortical deformation is less than 50% of the circumference.

Bone Turnover Marker (BTM) Changes after Denosumab in Giant Cell Tumors of Bone (GCTB): A Phase II Trial Correlative Study

Background: Giant cell tumors of bone (GCTB) are osteolytic tumors. Denosumab, a RANK-L inhibitor, is approved for GCTB. Data on serum bone turnover marker (sBTM) changes are lacking. We present a phase II correlative study on sBTMs in GCTB patients treated with denosumab. Methods: All GCTB patients receiving denosumab within a multicentre, open-label, phase 2 study were enrolled. Serum levels of carboxyterminal-crosslinked-telopeptide of type I collagen (s-CTX), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone-alkaline phosphatase (bALP), parathyroid hormone (sPTH), and osteocalcin (OCN) were prospectively assessed (baseline, T0, 3 months, T1, 6 months, T2). The primary endpoint was assessment of sBTM changes after denosumab; the secondary endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS) and sBTM correlation. Results: In 54 cases, sBTMs decreased during denosumab treatment except for sPTH. With a median follow-up of 59 months, 3-year DFS was 65% (%CI 52−79), with a significantly worse outcome for patients with high (≥500 UI/mL) s-CTX at baseline, as compared to low s-CTX (<500 UI/mL) (3-year DFS for high CTX 45% (95%CI 23−67) vs. 75% (95%CI 59−91) for low s-CTX. Higher median ALP and s-CTX were found for patients with tumor size ≥ 5 cm (p = 0.0512; p = 0.0589). Conclusion: Denosumab induces ALP/OCN and s-CTX reduction. High baseline s-CTX identifies a group of patients at higher risk of progression of the disease.

Management of giant cell tumors of the distal radius: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The treatment of giant cell tumors (GCT) of the distal radius remains challenging, with no consensus on the optimal surgical management. Surgical management remains the mainstay of treatment with options including intralesional curettage and en-bloc resection with reconstruction. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate and compare the outcomes of these two procedures.

METHODS

Using OVID-Medline and Embase databases, a systematic literature search was performed. Comparative studies, assessing intralesional curettage and en-bloc resection in patients with GCTs of the distal radius, were included. Data regarding rates of local recurrence, metastasis, overall complications, and functional outcomes, were collected and analyzed. The ROBINS-I tool was utilized for risk of bias appraisal within each study outcome.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies (n = 373 patients) reporting on 191 intralesional curettage procedures and 182 en-bloc resections were included in the analysis. The average age of participants was 31.9 (SD ± 2.4) years and average follow-up was 7.1 (SD ± 3.6) years. Patients that underwent intralesional curettage were more likely to develop local recurrence (Risk Ratio (RR) 3.3, 95% CI, [2.1, 5.4], p < 0.00001) when compared to patients that underwent en-bloc resection. In Campanacci grade 3 lesions, the risk for local recurrence was 5.9 (95% CI, [2.2, 16.3], p = 0.0006) times higher in patients that received intralesional curettage. Patients that underwent intralesional curettage showed an 84% reduction in the relative risk of developing overall complications compared to en-bloc resection (95% CI, [0.1, 0.4], p < 0.00001), and a larger decrease in Visual Analog Scale and lower Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores (p < 0.00001). Risk ratio for developing a local recurrence, with PMMA versus bone graft following an intralesional procedure was not significant (RR 1.2, 95% CI, [0.6, 2.6], p = 0.62).

CONCLUSIONS

In the surgical management of GCT of the distal radius, intralesional curettage increased local recurrence compared to en-bloc resection with reconstruction, particularly in grade 3 tumors. However, it led to significantly fewer operative complications, lower pain scores, and improved functional outcomes compared to en-bloc resection. Both treatment options remain relevant in the contemporary management of GCTs of the distal radius. Surgical decision making should include both patient and tumor factors when determining the optimal treatment strategy for these patients. LEVEL 3 EVIDENCE: Meta-analysis of Level 3 studies.

State of the Art and New Concepts in Giant Cell Tumor of Bone: Imaging Features and Tumor Characteristics

Simple Summary

The 2020 World Health Organization classification of soft tissue and bone tumors classified the giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) as an intermediate malignant tumor, with locally aggressive behavior and high recurrence rate. Imaging plays a pivotal role in the assessment of GCTB, and this review tries to summarize the main concepts about GCTB histopathogenesis and new biomarkers, describing those GCTB imaging findings which could possibly be explained by tumor molecular alterations. We have illustrated pre-operative imaging features related to prognosis and radiological findings for response evaluation after surgical treatment and denosumab administration. We have also reported the results described in literature regarding the role of radiomics in aiding GCTB diagnosis, predicting possible post-treatment recurrence and providing a quantitative assessment of the response to denosumab treatment.

Abstract

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is classified as an intermediate malignant tumor due to its locally aggressive behavior, burdened by high local recurrence rate. GCTB accounts for about 4–5% of all primary bone tumors and typically arises in the metaphysis and epiphyses of the long tubular bones. Mutation of gene H3F3A is at the basis of GCTB etiopathogenesis, and its immunohistochemical expression is a valuable method for practical diagnosis, even if new biomarkers have been identified for early diagnosis and for potential tumor recurrence prediction. In the era of computer-aided diagnosis, imaging plays a key role in the assessment of GCTB for surgical planning, patients’ prognosis prediction and post treatment evaluation. Cystic changes, penetrating irregular margins and adjacent soft tissue invasion on preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have been associated with a higher rate of local recurrence. Distance from the tumor edge to the articular surface and thickness of unaffected cortical bone around the tumor should be evaluated on Computed Tomography (CT) as related to local recurrence. Main features associated with local recurrence after curettage are bone resorption around the graft or cement, soft tissue mass formation and expansile destruction of bone. A denosumab positive response is represented by a peripherical well-defined osteosclerosis around the lesion and intralesional ossification. Radiomics has proved to offer a valuable contribution in aiding GCTB pre-operative diagnosis through clinical-radiomics models based on CT scans and multiparametric MR imaging, possibly guiding the choice of a patient-tailored treatment. Moreover, radiomics models based on texture analysis demonstrated to be a promising alternative solution for the assessment of GCTB response to denosumab both on conventional radiography and CT since the quantitative variation of some radiomics features after therapy has been correlated with tumor response, suggesting they might facilitate disease monitoring during post-denosumab surveillance.

Denosumab Does Not Decrease Local Recurrence in Giant Cell Tumor of Bone Treated With En Bloc Resection

We performed a systematic analysis of existing studies to determine whether preoperative denosumab reduces the risk of local recurrence for patients with giant cell tumor of bone treated with en bloc resection and to address the optimal duration of preoperative denosumab with respect to the risk of local recurrence after en bloc resection. Denosumab did not decrease the risk of local recurrence after en bloc resection; the proportion of patients with local recurrence was 3.6% (2 of 56) in the en bloc resection with preoperative denosumab group vs 14.2% (40 of 280) in the en bloc resection alone group, with an overall pooled odds ratio of 0.76 (P=.67). Meta-regression models revealed no association between the duration of preoperative denosumab and the odds of local recurrence after en bloc resection (P=.83). Administration of denosumab for 3 months before en bloc resection is appropriate for sufficient bone hardening to reduce tumor cell spillage and does not result in denosumab-related complications. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(6):326-332.].

Primary Tumors of the Sacrum: Imaging Findings

The diagnosis of sacral neoplasms is often delayed because they tend to remain clinically silent for a long time. Imaging is useful at all stages of managing sacral bone tumors: from the detection of the neoplasm to the long-term follow-up. Radiographs are recommended as the modality of choice to begin the imaging workup of a patient with known or suspected sacral pathology. More sensitive examinations such as computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MRI), or scintigraphy are often necessary. The morphological features of the lesions on CT and MRI help to orientate the diagnosis. Although some imaging characteristics are helpful to limit the differential diagnosis, an imaging-guided biopsy is often ultimately required to establish a specific diagnosis. Imaging is of paramount importance even in the long-term follow-up in order to assess any residual tumor when surgical resection is incomplete, to assess the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and to detect recurrence.

Preoperative CT for prediction of local recurrence after curettage of giant cell tumor of bone

•Preoperative CT images of GCTBs have value in prognostic prediction.•Certain features of GCTBs on CT images are related to local recurrence.•Our models' predictions for GCTB patients accepting extensive curettage are good.

Malignancy in giant cell tumor of bone: analysis of an open-label phase 2 study of denosumab

Background

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a rare osteoclastogenic stromal tumor. GCTB can rarely undergo malignant transformation. This post hoc analysis evaluated and classified malignancies in patients with GCTB who received denosumab.

Methods

This analysis was conducted on patients with pathologically confirmed GCTB and measurable active disease treated with denosumab 120 mg subcutaneously once every 4 weeks, with loading doses on study days 8 and 15, as part of a phase 2, open-label, multicenter study. We identified potential cases of malignancy related to GCTB through an independent multidisciplinary review or medical history, associated imaging or histopathologic reports, and disease course. The findings were summarized and no statistical analysis was performed.

Results

Twenty of five hundred twenty-six patients (3.8%) who received at least one dose of denosumab were misdiagnosed with GCTB that was later discovered to be malignancies: five primary malignant GCTB, five secondary malignant GCTB, four sarcomatous transformations, and six patients with other malignancies (giant cell-rich osteosarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, spindle cell sarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor of mixed connective tissue type, and fibrosarcoma/malignant fibrous histiocytoma). Many malignancies were present before denosumab was initiated (8 definitive cases, 7 likely cases), excluding potential involvement of denosumab in these cases. Signs associated with potential misdiagnoses of GCTB included poor mineralization with denosumab treatment, rapid relapse in pain, or a failure of the typical dramatic improvement in pain normally observed with denosumab.

Conclusions

Although rare, GCTB can undergo malignant transformation, and rates in this study were consistent with previous reports. Signs of poor mineralization or lack of response to denosumab treatment may warrant close monitoring.

Trial registration

clinicaltrials.gov, (NCT00680992). Registered May 20, 2008.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-020-07739-8.

The role of Denosumab in joint preservation for patients with giant cell tumour of bone

AIMS

Local recurrence remains a challenging and common problem following curettage and joint-sparing surgery for giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB). We previously reported a 15% local recurrence rate at a median follow-up of 30 months in 20 patients with high-risk GCTB treated with neoadjuvant Denosumab. The aim of this study was to determine if this initial favourable outcome following the use of Denosumab was maintained with longer follow-up.

METHODS

Patients with GCTB of the limb considered high-risk for unsuccessful joint salvage, due to minimal periarticular and subchondral bone, large soft tissue mass, or pathological fracture, were treated with Denosumab followed by extended intralesional curettage with the goal of preserving the joint surface. Patients were followed for local recurrence, metastasis, and secondary sarcoma.

RESULTS

A total of 25 patients with a mean age of 33.8 years (18 to 67) with high-risk GCTB received median six cycles of Denosumab before surgery. Tumours occurred most commonly around the knee (17/25, 68%). The median follow-up was 57 months (interquartile range (IQR) 13 to 88). The joint was salvaged in 23 patients (92%). Two required knee arthroplasty due to intra-articular fracture and arthritis. Local recurrence developed in 11 patients (44%) at a mean of 32.5 months (3 to 75) following surgery, of whom four underwent repeat curettage and joint salvage. One patient developed secondary osteosarcoma and another benign GCT lung metastases.

CONCLUSION

The use of Denosumab for joint salvage was associated with a higher than expected rate of local recurrence at 44%. Neoadjuvant Denosumab for joint-sparing procedures should be considered with caution in light of these results. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(1):184-191.

Mid-term results of intralesional extended curettage, cauterization, and polymethylmethacrylate cementation in the treatment of giant cell tumor of bone: A retrospective case series

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to present the mid-term functional outcomes and recurrence rate in patients with giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) treated by intralesional extended curettage, electrocauterization, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cementation.

METHODS

In this retrospective observational study, 79 consecutive patients (41 females, 38 males; mean age=39 years; age range=19-62 years) who were diagnosed and treated for GCTB between 2005 and 2017 were identified from hospital medical records. All patients were treated by intralesional extended curettage using high-speed burr, electrocauterization of the cavity, and filling the defect with PMMA. No additional local adjuvants were used. The mean follow-up period was 47 months (range=24-96). The tumors were graded according to the radiological classification system described by Campanacci. Functional outcomes were evaluated using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score (MSTS) preoperatively, one year postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. Postoperative complications and recurrence rates were recorded.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine tumors were located in the distal femur, 23 in the proximal tibia, nine in the distal radius, five in the proximal humerus, five in the pelvis, three in the proximal fibula, two in the distal ulna, two in the distal tibia, and one in the second metatarsal. According to Campanacci classification, 37 tumors were grade III, 32 grade II, and 10 grade I. The mean MSTS score was 46.1% (range 40.2 to 71.4%) preoperatively, 91.7% (range 73.3% to 100%) one year postoperatively, and 86.3 % (range 66.2% to 96,1%) at the final follow-up. The overall complication rate was 7.6%; which included local tumor recurrence in four patients, superficial wound infection in one, and deep wound infection in another. The recurrence rate was 5.1% (4 patients). Recurrent tumors were located at the distal femur in three patients and proximal tibia in one.

CONCLUSION

With satisfactory functional results and low recurrence rates at the mid-term follow-up, GCTB can be treated effectively with intralesional extended curettage, electrocauterization, and PMMA cementation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, Therapeutic study.