Zoledronic acid slows down rat primary chondrosarcoma development, recurrent tumor progression after intralesional curretage and increases overall survival

Chondrosarcoma is a difficult musculoskeletal tumor to treat. Surgical treatment leads to severe disability, with high rates of local recurrence and life threat. No adjuvant therapy is effective in differentiated chondrosarcomas. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are a class of molecules which is effective in malignant bone diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of zoledronic acid (ZOL) on chondrosarcoma tumor progression. ZOL was tested in vivo (s.c. 100 mu g/kg, twice a week) in a rat chondrosarcoma model and in vitro (10(-7)-10(-4) M) on cells derived from this model. Two types of animal models were assessed, the first simulated development after intralesional curettage, the second nonoperative development of the tumor. Cell proliferation, caspase-1, -3 activities and cell cycle analysis were studied. The results revealed that ZOL slows down primary tumor development, tumor progression after intralesional curretage and increases overall survival. ZOL inhibits cell proliferation and increases cell death, with no significant variation of caspase-1 and -3, activities and cell cycle profiles. The present study demonstrates for the first time that in addition to surgery, the therapy of chondrosarcoma with BPs might be beneficial. Because of these first results, new therapeutic approaches of chondrosarcoma must be considered, mainly for low grade chondrosarcoma when disabling operation is planned and when only intralesional resection can be undertaken. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.