Sunitinib may raise the risk of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: presentation of three cases.
OBJECTIVE
Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a serious side effect of bisphosphonate (BP) medication. Tooth extractions are the most frequent causes for BRONJ. In some cases BRONJ is observed spontaneously, with some anatomic sites carrying a higher risk. Sunitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is established in renal cell carcinoma and is known to lead to oral mucositis as a side effect, which in BP patients may additionally raise the risk of BRONJ.


METHODS
We present 3 patients with renal cell carcinoma under BP medication who developed BRONJ during and after sunitinib medication.


RESULTS
In 2 patients, BRONJ was linked to the occurrence of mucositis after sunitinib intake. The third patient showed relapse of completely healed BRONJ lesions shortly after resumption of a sunitinib therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral mucositis during chemotherapy may raise the risk of BRONJ in cancer patients with BP medication. Especially in renal cell carcinoma patients under sunitinib therapy and intravenous BP medication, oral mucositis should be observed closely because it could be a risk factor for BRONJ.
Hoefert
Sebastian
S
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Regional Plastic Surgery, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Recklinghausen, Academic Teaching Hospital of Ruhr-University Bochum, Recklinghausen, Germany. hoefert.sebastian@kk-recklinghausen.de
Eufinger
Harald
H
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D052016:Mucositis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000601:surgery; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D000077210:Sunitinib; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007211:Indoles; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000077210:Sunitinib