Bone mineral density changes following immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: insights from a case series analysis
Authors' conclusion
ICIs effect on bone metabolism of oncological patients remains undefined. In our cohort, patients with normal BMD and osteopenia did not present a significant change in the BMD after a median follow-up of 12 months. However, patients with baseline osteoporosis were the most affected in both sites. Larger prospective studies are needed to replicate our findings and to define the impact of these drugs on the skeleton.
Study context
- Population
- Oncological patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), with DXA before and after ICI administration
- Participants
- 15 patients
- Exposure
- Normal Bone Mineral Density (BMD) vs Osteopenia vs Osteoporosis
- Outcome
- Percentage change in BMD (DXA) before and after ICIs
- Follow-up
- Median 12 months
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Normal BMD: median femoral BMD reduction
- 0.15%
- Normal BMD: median lumbar BMD reduction
- 0.10%
- Osteopenia: femoral BMD
- no alterations
- Osteopenia: median lumbar BMD reduction
- 0.07%
- Osteoporosis: femoral BMD reduction
- 6%
- Osteoporosis: lumbar BMD reduction
- 17.30%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Safety
Osteoporotic fractures · median follow-up 12 months
- No osteoporotic fracture was demonstrated during follow-up
Original publication
Bone mineral density changes following immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: insights from a case series analysis. Osteoporos Int. Published 10 August 2025. doi:10.
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