Short-term Use Of Intermittent PTH To Accelerate Healing Of Stress Fractures And During Bisphosphonate Treatment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$633,331.00
Summary
Osteoporosis treatments prevent fractures by hindering cells that erode the skeleton. Normally, those cells also repair injuries like stress fractures. Some patients, treated for long periods, can suffer fractures because the treatment slows bone healing. We have an innovative model to test alternative treatments to accelerate stress fracture healing, while osteoporosis treatment continues. This could prevent unusual stress fractures, in patients who still need the bone-sparing effectiveness of ....Osteoporosis treatments prevent fractures by hindering cells that erode the skeleton. Normally, those cells also repair injuries like stress fractures. Some patients, treated for long periods, can suffer fractures because the treatment slows bone healing. We have an innovative model to test alternative treatments to accelerate stress fracture healing, while osteoporosis treatment continues. This could prevent unusual stress fractures, in patients who still need the bone-sparing effectiveness of osteoporosis treatment.Read moreRead less
Targeting The Vicious Cycle Of Cancer-induced Bone Disease With TRAIL And Bisphosphonates
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,696.00
Summary
The most serious clinical problem with patients with many forms of solid tumours is metastasis to bone, which leads to potentially debilitating complications that can cause erosion of the patient's quality of life, and eventually death. Unfortunately, bony metastases usually occur before pre-emptive treatments can be applied to prevent it. We have recently shown that recombinant soluble TRAIL is a potent anticancer agent that prevents cancer-induced bone destruction in a mouse model by directly ....The most serious clinical problem with patients with many forms of solid tumours is metastasis to bone, which leads to potentially debilitating complications that can cause erosion of the patient's quality of life, and eventually death. Unfortunately, bony metastases usually occur before pre-emptive treatments can be applied to prevent it. We have recently shown that recombinant soluble TRAIL is a potent anticancer agent that prevents cancer-induced bone destruction in a mouse model by directly targeting cancer cells within bone, and with no evidence of toxic side effects to normal tissues. Death receptor targeting by TRAIL, and bisphosphonates induce cancer cell apoptosis through different but overlapping signaling pathways. Therefore, combination of the two approaches may facilitate killing of tumour cells that resist death induction through either one of the pathways. Combination therapy may also reduce the probability of acquired resistance to either therapy. We propose that a combinatorial approach, using bisphosphonates to selectively target osteoclasts and TRAIL to selectively target cancer cells, would be an ideal therapeutic and safe approach to delay, slow or completely eliminate growth of cancer within bone.Read moreRead less
Bisphosphonate Treatment Of Childhood Femoral Head Avascular Necrosis Due To Perthes Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,368,242.00
Summary
Perthes disease (PD) occurs following loss of blood supply to the hip (femoral head). It is a severe childhood disorder with over 250 new cases per year in Australia. PD results in flattening of the normally round femoral head and painful arthritis. The hip becomes flat because the bone is eaten by cells called osteoclasts. We will test if a medicine aimed at stopping these osteoclasts can prevent hip flattening. This should decrease the risk of arthritis and the need for hip replacement.