For Prostate Cancer with Bone Metastases, Denosumab Prevents Skeletal Complications

the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:

Denosumab reduces risk of skeletal complications compared to zoledronic acid in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and bone metastases, according to a study published in Annals of Oncology.

Researchers led by Matthew Smith, MD, PhD, of the Massachusetts General Hospital, observed results from a phase 3 trial in order to reassess the efficacy of denosumab using symptomatic skeletal events (SSE) as the endpoint. Patients who had CRPC, were not previously exposed to bisphophonates and had radiographic evidence of bone metastasis were randomized to either denosumab 120 mg plus intravenous (IV) placebo every four weeks, or IV zoledronic acid 4 mg plus placebo every four weeks.

They found that patients with CRPC that were treated with denosumab were at a significantly reduced risk of developing first SSE, and first and subsequent SSEs, compared to those who were on zoledronic acid.

In patients who had no-to-mild pain at baseline, both SSEs and skeletal-related events (SREs) were associated with moderate-to-severe pain development. When defined as SSE versus SRE, fewer patients had skeletal complications – fractures in particular.