Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is the most common, usually benign, bone tumor afflicting younger patients. Standard procedure for therapy is surgical resection. However, treatment options for unresectable cases have remained fairly static, and consequently treatment for refractory, recurrent, or metastatic GCT remains challenging [1, 2]. The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) pathway has been shown to play a key role in the pathogenesis of GCT [3, 4]. A monoclonal antibody to RANKL, denosumab, offers promise in these patients [5]. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) 5b is secreted from osteoclasts and is reported to be elevated in the serum of patients with GCT of bone [6]. We investigated the efficacy of denosumab and evaluated the usefulness of TRACP 5b as a marker to monitor the management of a refractory GCT of bone.

A Japanese 41-year-old man with type II diabetes mellitus visited a nearby hospital with a major complaint of right ischiac pain that had persisted for 1 year. Plain X-ray revealed an osteolytic bone tumor with thinning of cortex in the right ischium (Figure 1). He was referred to our department for examination and treatment. At his first visit, he presented with spontaneous pain and tenderness in the right ischium. Blood test showed high TRACP-5b levels (1920 mU/dl; normal value: ≤590 mU/dl). The results of the blood tests showed no other abnormal findings. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a low signal intensity area on both T1- and T2-weighted images, and the tumor exhibited contrast enhancement with gadolinium.Based on the X-ray and MRI findings, GCT of the ischium was suspected. Incision biopsy was performed (intraoperative bleeding: 170 mL), and histopathological findings showed interstitial mononuclear cells lacking atypical features and the presence of multinucleated giant cells. Thus, a diagnosis of GCT was established (Figure 2). The tumor extended to the acetabulum, and therefore it was possible that en bloc resection might significantly impair the function of the hip joint. Additionally, the level of curettage required could cause massive bleeding. Therefore, a non-surgical approach was first employed, using denosumab (120 mg) as an adjuvant therapy thrice weekly, every 4 weeks.After the first dose of denosumab, TRACP-5b levels rapidly decreased to normal values (181 mU/dl), and remained within the normal range (Figure 3). Additionally, with continued denosumab treatment, we observed shell formation and cortex remodeling at the tumor margin by serial computed tomography (CT) examinations (Figure 4).Angiography and embolization were performed 35 days after the third course of denosumab therapy and, on the following day, surgical treatments, including tumor curettage and artificial bone (hydroxyapatite) grafting, were carried out. Intraoperative bleeding was 1700 ml. Curetted tissues visibly contained only bone tissues and fibrous tissues, and no tumorous tissues with suspected GCT could be found (Figure 5). Pathological examination also showed that the multiple GCTs detected before surgery had disappeared and were replaced by fibrous cells. No residual GCT was found in the specimen, indicating the effectiveness of the denosumab therapy. The tissues showed partial reactive bone formation, which was considered to be bone regeneration, and the presence of aggregated inflammatory cells (Figure 6).

Based on the modern interpretation of pathophysiology, GCT of bone is now regarded as a predominantly osteoclastogenic stromal tumor [1]. Numerous cells stain positively for both RANKL and stromal cell factor-1 [7]. The GCT stromal cells are now widely understood to be the major neoplastic and proliferative component of GCT [1]. These stromal cells recruit monocytes by secreting various chemokines [1], with monocytes shown to express RANK and stromal cells, RANKL [4]. This RANKL pathway is essential for osteoclast maturation. The results of a Phase 2 study have indicated that denosumab offers disease and symptom control for advanced or refractory disease [5]. Denosumab interferes with this RANKL pathway and was indeed effective against the growing osteoclast in the present case. The question still remains whether stromal cells can be eliminated completely by prohibiting the RANKL pathway. Fortunately, no GCT could be found in the pathological examination of this case after denosumab therapy. Among bone resorption markers, TRACP 5b is the only marker secreted by osteoclasts [8], and has been reported to increase in patients with GCT of bone [6]. In our case, TRACP 5b dramatically decreased after the first denosumab administration, and serial measurements of marker showed that its concentration in the blood reflected the pathological GCT activity. TRACP 5b may thus be a good marker to monitor the GCT activity in patients undergoing treatment with denosumab.

The results of this case study suggest that denosumab might be a potential therapeutic option for refractory GCT of bone, and that TRACP 5b could be used as an early marker to monitor denosumab therapy for patients with refractory GCT.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this Case Report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.