Bone mineral density changes following immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: insights from a case series analysis
Abstract
UNLABELLED: Brief rationale: The use of ICIs is increasing rapidly. Limited studies support potential effects on bone health.
MAIN RESULT: Osteoporotic patients demonstrated a 6% and 17% reduction in femoral and lumbar spine BMD, respectively. Paper significance: This is a real-world data record of the effect of one-year ICI treatment on skeletal health.
PURPOSE: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are used as a treatment for various malignancies, resulting in the occurrence of a plethora of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). An increasing interest has emerged on the possible effects of these drugs on the skeleton, predominantly osteoporotic fractures, although bone health studies are scarce.
METHODS: Our study analyzed retrospectively the percentage of the alteration of the bone mineral density (BMD) evaluated by Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan in 15 oncological patients before and after the administration of ICIs, as well as the occurrence of osteoporotic fractures, within a median follow-up period of 12 months.
RESULTS: Patients with normal baseline BMD presented a median femoral and lumbar BMD reduction of 0.15% and 0.10%, respectively. Patients with a baseline BMD in favor of osteopenia exhibited no alterations in the femoral BMD and a median 0.07% reduction in the lumbar BMD. Patients with baseline osteoporosis demonstrated a femoral and lumbar BMD reduction of 6% and 17.30%, respectively. No osteoporotic fracture was demonstrated during the median…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health. Reported size: 15 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Development of a crushable foam model for human trabecular bone
- Data-driven motion compensation in HR-pQCT.
- Modeling of structure, quality, and function in the orthodontic patient
- Exploring the mechanism of Heidihuang Pill in the treatment of osteoporosis based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation
- Effect of fabric on the accuracy of computed tomography-based finite element analyses of the vertebra
- Use of interventions involving virtual reality tasks during the climacteric: a systematic review
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.