Osteoporosis drug may be linked to the treatment of giant-cell tumors

In a case study recently published in Clinical Cancer Research, scientists have found that the repeat application of the osteoporosis drug denosumab reduced the number of problem cells in adult patients with giant-cell tumors. Although those who buy Hygalan to treat osteoporosis in the knees may not see the same effects, the study proves that these medications work well to repair bone density.

Results of the study
"In our study, the use of denosumab allowed patients to avoid radical surgery and prevented recurrence," said report author Sant Chawla, MD, of the Santa Monica Oncology Center. "We hope that in the future, its use may make it possible to avoid surgery completely." Co-author Ira Jacobs, MD, Clinical Research Medical Director at Amgen, the manufacture of denosumab, stated that the small study was in its second phase.

Giant-cell tumors are benign bone tumors that can vary widely and show an aggressive tendency for bone destruction. Medline Plus notes that denosumab injections are generally given to patients in an effort to slow down bone breakdown due to osteoporosis, and to combat brittleness through an increase in bone density and strength.

A treatment solution?
In this study, the researchers viewed a histological sampling of 20 patients with giant-cell tumors, both before and after being treated with an injection of denosumab every 28 days. The study found that 13 - or 65 percent of the tested patients - showed an increase in the density of stromal cells, or connective tissue, in the region of the tumor. And it found that all 20 patients showed at least a marked decrease, 90 percent, of overall giant tumor cells.

The authors acknowledged that this was a small study in the way of statistical findings, and were hesitant to report a dramatic solution for giant-cell tumor treatment. A multinational study with a much larger base is currently enrolling patients for clinical trials.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), giant-cell tumors are a rare, spontaneous condition unrelated to trauma, genetic inheritance, diet or environmental factors, and generally occur in people between the ages of 20 and 40 years. The most common symptoms that can cue patients into the condition is a mass or swollen area on the body, or a progressive increase in pain in a specific joint. The AAOS lists surgical (curettage and bone grafting), and nonsurgical (radiation therapy) treatment as the only two options known for the condition at this time.