Cancer treatment and its impact on bone and marrows

Susanta K Hui

: J Bioengineer & Biomedical Sci

Abstract :

Background/Purpose: Cancer survivors have an increased risk of fractures from cancer treatment induced accelerated bone loss. A proper model, appropriate biomarkers, and the mechanism of the impact of cancer treatment on comprehensive bone quality are still poorly developed or not yet understood. Methods: A clinically relevant murine radiation model is developed to study A) the longitudinal effects of radiation with a non-invasively measured 45Ca marker to determine whether bone mineral remodeling is a slow or rapid, B) Bone microarchitecture, C) Marrow damage and recovery. As well, diagnostic CT is used to measure the effect of radiation, chemotherapy and the combination of chemotherapy and radiation on bone loss in gynecologic oncology patients. Results: In the murine model, rapid 45Ca excretion was observed by Day 4 post radiation compared to non-irradiated mice. 3D micro-computed tomography (μCT)-based analysis showed a reduction in cancellous bone volume fraction (BV/TV) at the distal femur metaphysis at 30 days post-radiation delivery. In the cancer patient group, a rapid and significant difference in the pattern or degree of bone loss was observed for patients undergoing radiation, chemotherapy or the combination of both treatments in gynecological patients.Conclusion: Cancer treatment may cause rapid bone and marrow damage. Insight into the dynamic changes of bone and marrow, as well as developing a comprehensive biomarker, may allow development of novel therapies to modulate both BMD and marrow composition more effectively than present antiresorptive therapies.

Biography :

Susanta K Hui is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. One of his translational research focuses is to understand the impact of cancer treatment, develop biomarkers to detect changes in bone and marrow, and translate knowledge to improve cancer survivors? bone health, ultimately improving their quality of life. He has published more than 35 peer reviewed journal publication.