Antiresorptive Agents and Anti-Angiogenesis Drugs in the Development of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

• Published in: The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine Vol. 248; no. 1; pp. 27 - 29
• Main Authors: Allegra, Alessandro, Pulvirenti, Nicolina, Innao, Vanessa, Musolino, Caterina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Tohoku University Medical Press 2019
• Subjects: Angiogenesis Inhibitors - adverse effects; anti-angiogenesis agents; antiresorptive agent; Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw - blood; Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw - etiology; bisphosphonates; Bone Density Conservation Agents - adverse effects; denosumab; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Humans; Interleukin-17 - blood; medications-related osteonecrosis of the jaw; medications-related osteonecrosis of the jaw; antiresorptive agent; bisphosphonates; anti-angiogenesis agents; denosumab
• ISSN: 0040-8727; 1349-3329; 1349-3329
• DOI: 10.1620/tjem.248.27

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a condition of exposed bone in the maxillofacial region, which occurs among subjects treated with antiresorptive agents or anti-angiogenesis drugs, despite the lack of a history of head or neck radiation treatment. Although there are still many points to be clarified about the mechanism of MRONJ, it is possible to hypothesize a common pathogenetic mechanism for two different classes of drugs: antiresorptive and anti-angiogenetic drugs. These drugs can inhibit angiogenesis by interfering with endothelial cell proliferation and survival, leading to loss of blood vessels and avascular necrosis. This hypothesis could be of immediate translational interest. Targeting the anti-angiogenetic effect of the antiresorptive agents could provide a new possibility for the prevention of treatment of MRONJ.