Treatment of Chondroblastoma with Denosumab: A Case Report with a Correlative Analysis of Effect on the RANK Signaling Pathway

CASE A 15-year-old boy with chondroblastoma of the right hemipelvis presented with significant periacetabular bone destruction. Neoadjuvant denosumab treatment facilitated initial joint preserving surgery. Unfortunately, he experienced 2 local recurrences and underwent wide surgical resection 2 years after his initial diagnosis. CONCLUSION Inhibition of the receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANK-L) pathway with denosumab has been used neoadjuvantly for the treatment of giant cell tumor of bone, but its role in the treatment of chondroblastoma is less understood. This patient's clinical response and effect on cellular RANK/RANK-L activity support the consideration of denosumab in the treatment algorithm for other osteolytic bone tumors such as chondroblastoma.