The PENTO Protocol in Medication-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

MRONJ is defined as intraoral bone exposure persisting for more than 8 weeks after taking an anti-resorptive agent (per os or IV bisphosphonates, targeted therapies) and without history of maxilla radiotherapy or metastasis. It leads to a significant decrease in quality of life with significant pain at rest and during mastication, and compromised nutrition, sometimes resulting in severe undernutrition in patients already weakened by a history of cancer. Current treatments (prolonged antibiotic therapy, repeated bone curettage) have shown partial effectiveness. PENTO (combination of pentoxifylline, a vasodilator, and tocopherol, vitamin E) has been shown to significantly reduce intraoral exposed bone surface area and pain in maxilla osteoradionecrosis. All studies conducted so far on PENTO in MRONJ are retrospective or involve small samples. Therefore, our idea is to perform a well-conducted prospective phase IIa study to prove the efficacy of PENTO, with a larger sample size and identical follow-up periods. The investigators will study patients with AAOMS stage 2 MRONJ (exposed bone in symptomatic patients, without pathologic fracture). Treatment will consist of pentoxifylline LP 400 mg morning and evening, combined with tocopherol 500 mg morning and evening. Antibiotic therapy with Augmentin (or clindamycin) will be added for the first month and then punctually if signs of local infection appear. The primary and secondary endpoints will be assessed at inclusion and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.