Recent Articles by MASCC members in Oral Diseases: An Update by Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis

2020    For the benefit MASCC members, Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis, DDS, MSc, DrDent, has shared updates on the publication of two recent articles in Oral Diseases. The first is“Alveolar bone histological necrosis observed prior to extractions in patients, who received bone-targeting agents,” which includes MASCC member study participants Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis, Erofili Papadopoulou, Emmanouil Vardas, Maria Kouri, Dimitra Galiti, and Carla Ripamonti.

The study, led by Nicolatou-Galitis, notes that the jawbone was found histologically necrotic in cancer patients who received bone-targeting agents.  The research protocol organized in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. The study lasted three years and was based on clinical observations since 2010 as well as many discussions and collaborations with Professor Cesar Migliorati, a world-renowned expert on medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).

In particular, the alveolar bone was necrotic in 28 of the 40 patients (70%), who underwent a dental extraction due to pain, swelling, purulence, and fistula. No bone necrosis was observed in 15 patients, who underwent extraction of teeth due to fracture or dental caries and without infectious symptoms. Twelve of all 14 patients who developed post-extraction osteonecrosis showed bone necrosis on histology. Related research is continued in other centers. 

The second article, “Workshop of European task force on medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw-current challenges,” includes MASCC members Ourania Nicolatou‐Galitis and Bente Brokstad Herlofson.

According to the European Task Force on MRONJ, pain, purulence, and fistula may represent early stage of osteonecrosis of the jaw. Pain, swelling, purulence and other signs of dental/periodontal infection are also recorded as important risk factors for the development of osteonecrosis by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (2014). At that time, the exact relationship of dental disease with the development of osteonecrosis was not known.

Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis is the Lead for the development of five educational modules on the important issue of MRONJ and collaborates with the European organization ecancer.org. The project has been supported by the European Task Force for MRONJ. The next main goal of the project is the motivation of country-specific groups, including health care professionals and patient associations to achieve widespread dissemination of the knowledge and best results on the prevention and management of MRONJ.    

Nicolatou-Galitis expresses her appreciation and thanks to MASCC for the knowledge and opportunities the association has given her.  She proudly notes: “I would not be ‘me’ if I were not a MASCC member all these years.”  She also wishes to thank MASCC for the opportunity to participate in the European Cancer Organization.  She intends to introduce the uniqueness of MASCC and supportive care in cancer to make excellent cancer care possible.

References
1. O. Nicolatou-Galitis, E. Papadopoulou, E. Vardas, et al (2020). Alveolar bone histological necrosis observed prior to extractions in patients, who received bone-targeting agents, Oral Diseases 26:955-966, DOI: 10.1111/odi.13294. 

2.  Schiodt M, Otto S, Fedele S, Bedogni A, Nicolatou-Galitis O, et al (2019). Workshop of European task Force on medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw-current challenges. Oral Diseases 25:1815-1821, DOI 10.1111/odi.13160.

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