L2M NSERC - Novel Glass Polyalkenoate Cement for the Treatment of Metastatic Bone Cancer.

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Cancer cells can metastasize in the skeleton, with incidence depending on the location of the primary tumour: 65-75% breast; 65-75% prostate and 30-40% lung. The International Agency for Research on Cancer estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases in 2020, of which lung (11.6%), breast (11.6%), and prostate (7.3%) were among the top four most common cancers, suggesting that majority of patients suffering from advanced cancers are at high risk of developing metastatic bone cancer.Metastatic bone cancers interfere with the bone remodelling process, often resulting in increased bone resorption; this causes these already morbid patients to experience severe pain and the threat of suffering from skeletal-related events (SREs), which are an array of complications which increase mortality; the most concerning being a pathological fracture. Moreover, their associated healthcare costs are considerable, with a mean additional cost of 67,257USD/year compared to patients who do not encounter SREs, attributed to an increased number of ER and physician visits, longer hospital stays, number of medications filled, etc. Therefore, mitigating the development of SREs is critical for the care of metastatic bone cancer patients, which is achieved by reducing bone resorption and treating the underlying malignancy.Glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs) are employed in both dentistry and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeries. They set by an acid-base reaction between an ionomeric bioactive glass and aqueous polyacrylic acid. Furthermore, the glass phase can be tailored to release an array of ions that possess specific properties. For instance, in its ionic form, gallium (Ga) has demonstrated antitumour effects and the ability to retard bone resorption. Our research group has re-engineered dental GPCs specifically for wrist fracture fixation based on a novel, patented (US 10/815,144) bioactive glass. Modification of this glass had yielded a GPC with the ability to supply a localized dosage of Ga and the potential to suppress cancer activity, provide structural support, improve patients' outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.