A Combination Drug Therapy For Bone Regeneration Using A Model of Distraction Osteogenesis Following Radiotherapy

Abstract

Head and neck cancer, as the sixth most prevalent cancer in the world, has treatment options including surgery, radiotherapy, or both. Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is a new surgical method that helps remediate harmful side effects from radiation and is less invasive than bone grafting, but has a lengthy recovery time. In previous experiments done at the University of Michigan’s Medical Center, drug treatments like amifostine and deferoxamine have been shown to reduce the length of rehabilitation by acting as a cellular radio protectant and promoting angiogenesis, respectively. However, metrics measured have not been completely restored back to non-radiated levels when analyzing bony union rate and mechanical testing. In this study, both individual treatments were combined in order to try and maximize their therapeutic potential. Hypothesis: A combination therapy of amifostine and deferoxamine will improve biomechanics and union rates beyond either therapy alone following radiotherapy and distraction osteogenesis.