Influence of bisphosphonates or recombinant human parathyroid hormone on in vitro sensitivity of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells to chemotherapy

Bone health in childhood cancer survivors, is there really a problem? Pitfalls of assessment, calculating risk, and suggested surveillance and management for osteonecrosis and low and very low bone mineral density

Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk of developing (long-term) skeletal adverse effects, such as osteonecrosis, impaired bone mineral density, and fractures. This paper provides an overview of the current understanding of bone health in these survivors, examining whether it represents a significant concern. It focusses on the challenges of assessing and managing bone health in childhood cancer survivors, highlighting diagnostic pitfalls, methods for accurately identifying those at high risk, and suggested strategies for the surveillance and management of osteonecrosis and impaired bone mineral density. The need for improved surveillance strategies, particularly for high-risk survivors, alongside potential prevention and management options, including pharmacological and lifestyle interventions, is emphasised. Given the lack of consensus on optimal prevention and treatment strategies, the paper emphasises the need for further research to optimise care and improve long-term outcomes for childhood cancer survivors with bone health impairments.

Bisphosphonate treatment for skeletal complications in paediatric cancer-Experience from a single tertiary centre

AIMS

The aim was to analyse the use and safety of bisphosphonate treatment for metabolic bone complications in paediatric cancer patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively describe our experience with bisphosphonate treatment in 25 childhood cancer patients (aged <18 years) in a single tertiary hospital between 1999 and 2020.

RESULTS

The most common primary diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (n = 16) and Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 3). Eleven patients (44%) had received allogeneic stem cell transplantation and two patients autologous stem cell transplantation. Sixteen patients (64%) had been treated with radiotherapy, either total-body (n = 11) or local (n = 5). The main indication for bisphosphonates was osteoporosis with vertebral compression fractures in 13/25, osteonecrosis in 6/25 and hypercalcaemia in 2/25. The bisphosphonate treatment was started on average 13 (range 0-76) months after the diagnosis of the bone complication. Bisphosphonate treatment lasted between weeks (hypercalcaemia) to 5 years (severe osteoporosis). Mild, non-symptomatic hypophosphatemia (n = 8), hypocalcaemia (n = 6) and moderate, transient pain (n = 6) were the most common adverse effects. No severe side effects were observed even when bisphosphonates were administered concomitantly with chemotherapy. Bone mineral density significantly improved with the bisphosphonate treatment (mean lumbar spine Z-score -1.17 vs. -0.07, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Bisphosphonate treatment was well tolerated in this paediatric patient cohort.