Amanda Phoon Nguyen

Oct 19, 20192 min

How many medications can you name that are implicated in MRONJ?

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw unrelated to bisphosphonates and denosumab—a review. King, Tanna and Patel. OOOO 2019;127:289299

1. Drug Class: Monoclonal antibodies. Suffix “-mab”

Examples:

Bevacizumab (Avastin)

Adalimumab (Humira)

Infliximab (Remicade)

Rituximab (Rituxan)

Commonly prescribed for: Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, osteoporosis

Comment: Increased risk when coupled with bone-modulating therapies.

In 2011, European Medicines Agency issued warning linking bevacizumab to ONJ and reported 55 cases in approximately 800,000 patients.

2. Drug Class:Tyrosine kinase inhibitors

30 TKIs have been approved for use, 8 are implicated in ONJ.

Suffix “-nib”

Examples: Suntinib (Sutent)

Imatinib (Gleevec)

Sorafenib (Nexavar)

Pazopanib (Votrient)

Axitinib (Inlyta)

Regorafenib (Stirvarga)

Cabozantanib (Cometriq)

Commonly prescribed for: Hematologic malignancies such as leukaemias, renal cell carcinomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumours , soft tissue sarcomas and neuroendocrine tumours.

Comment: Thought to be implicated via antiangiogenic effects

In review by Zhang et al of ONJ cases reported to FDA between 2010 and 2014, 418 cases were TKI- related.

Risk heightened with concurrent use of antiresoptives.

3. Drug Class: Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors

Suffix “-limus”

Examples: Everolimus (Afinitor)

Temsirolimus (Torisel)

Commonly prescribed for: Renal cell cancer, neuroendocrine cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, organ transplantation

Comment: Implicated in ONJ with its sole use and when used in conjunction with bisphosphonates.

FDA FAERS study highlighted risk.

4: Drug Class: Variant fusion proteins

Suffix “-cept”

Examples: Afibercept (Zaltrap, Eylea)

Commonly prescribed for: Renal cell carcinoma, macular degeneration and macular edema.

Comment: Has antiangiogenics effects and also inhibits VEGF.

Case reports and clinical trial report risk and drug has a safety warning regarding ONJ risk.

5. Drug Class: Radiopharmaceuticals

Example: Radium 223 (Xofrigo)

Comment: Used to localize and manage bone metastases, sometimes in combination with chemotherapy.

Thought to have an additive effect when combined with other bone-modulating therapies in the development of MRONJ.

Most reports have patients with previous bisphosphonate exposure.

6. Drug Class: Disease modifying anti rheumatic drug

Example: Methotrexate

Commonly prescribed for: Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease

Comment: The addition of MTX to bisphosphonate therapy is a well recognized risk factor. Sole use of MTX has also been implicated.

7. Drug Class: Corticosteroids

Example: Predisolone

Commonly prescribed for: Numerous reasons

Comment: 2 case reports in mandible

8. Drug Class: Selective estrogen receptor modulators

Example: Raloxifene (Evista)

Commonly prescribed for: Breast cancer, to maintain bone density in post menopausal women

Comment: Link not fully established however concerns raised.

1 case report

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