Prostate cancer tends to metastasize to bones as opposed to soft tissue and other organs. We have no idea why it does have a preference for bone, but it does. Developing bone metastases in prostrate cancer is a very strong negative prognostic indicator. Prostate cancer’s tendency to favor bone over soft tissue causes significant morbidity [...]
Xgeva, also known as denosumab, is an injectable medication (injected once a month subcutaneously under the skin in the doctor’s office) that is used to prevent bone fractures and spinal cord compression caused by bone metastases in breast and prostate cancer survivors. Solid tumors in the bone, which is a common site for individuals with [...]
Somehow I have been negligent and not let people know that I have written and posted a major update of my “Guide to Advanced Prostate Cancer.” As in the past, it is available as a free download from the Malecare web site. Helping me to update the book was prostate cancer survivor Craig Pynn and [...]
Xgeva is used in men with advanced and metastatic prostate cancer with bone metastases for the prevention of developing additional skeletal-related events (not to be confused with bone mineral density). In a phase 3 trial, the 147 Study, evaluating denosumab (Xgeva) versus placebo 1,432 men with castrate-resistant prostate cancer demonstrated that Xgeva improved median bone [...]
From: the 2014 ASCO GU Meeting Abstract No: 35 Researchers have found in a randomized controlled trial of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) the use of the treatment denosumab was superior to the more commonly used zoledronic acid (ZA) for reducing skeletal-related events (SRE). SREs are defined as a pathological fracture, surgery or [...]
Men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in Québec, Canada now have access to Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) prior to having chemotherapy. Effective February 3, 2014, the province has added ZYTIGA to the public drug formulary for the treatment of mCRPC in men who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic after failure of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). [...]
A John’s Hopkins Health Alert titled “How Long Is It Safe to Take Bisphosphonates for Osteoporosis?” Should Raise Some Concerns Men on Long Term Bisphosphonate Therapy Hormone therapy (ADT) is notorious for many negative side effects, including osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the thinning of bone that increases the risk for fractures, especially hip and spine fractures. [...]
Xgeva is a monoclonal antibody that inactivates RANKL, a protein that enhances osteoclast activity and survival. By inhibiting RANKL, Xgeva prevents skeletal-related events in men with bone metastasis from prostate cancer. Under no circumstances should a man who also has multiple myeloma use Xgeva. There have been studies that compared Xgeva to zolendronic acid (Zometa). [...]
