AO Spine Clinical Practice Recommendations: Current Systemic Oncological Treatments with the Largest Impact on Patients with Metastatic Spinal Disease

Abstract

Study Design: Literature review with clinical recommendation. Objective: To provide the readers with a concise curation of the latest literature in recent advances in systemic oncological therapies and their implications for decision-making in patients with metastatic spinal disease. This review aims to enhance spine specialist’s understanding of modern oncological treatments to facilitate optimal timing and planning of local interventions. Methods: The latest literature in the topic of advances in oncology was reviewed by a multidisciplinary group of experts in metastatic spinal disease and clinical recommendations were formulated. The recommendations were dichotomously graded into strong and conditional (weak) based on the integration of scientific methodology and content expert opinion. This opinion considered experience and practical issues such as risks, burdens, costs, patient values, and circumstances. Results: Four high-impact studies were reviewed, demonstrating significant advancements in systemic treatments for metastatic cancers commonly affecting the spine. These studies showed improved survival outcomes and efficacy across breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and renal cell carcinoma. The findings have important implications for surgical/radiotherapy planning, including considerations for timing of interventions, wound healing, and the potential for extended survival affecting construct durability requirements. Conclusions: Recent advances in systemic oncological treatments have important implications for managing metastatic spinal disease. Understanding these developments is crucial for spine specialists to optimize decision-making through a multidisciplinary approach, particularly regarding timing of local interventions, strategy of the surgical approach and reconstruction. (Figure presented.)