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 [...]
Men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and bone metastases (BM) will often have debilitating pain that impacts every aspect of their daily functioning thus significantly diminishing their quality of life (QoL). Finding the best drug or treatment to control the pain will allow men to have a more complete and fulfilling life as well as [...]
A large meta-analysis of nine studies showed that both oral and IV bisphosphonates were associated with a significantly increased risk of new-onset atrial-fibrillation (AF). The analysis also showed that the risk was greater with the IV drugs. According to the lead author, Dr Abhishek Sharma (Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY.) the meta-analysis suggests that bisphosphonates [...]
It has been accepted that Zoledronic acid (ZA)(Zometa) reduces the onset risk of skeletal-related events (SRE) caused by bone metastasis in prostate cancer as well as improving their quality of life (QOL). ZA has become a standard supportive therapy for men with prostate cancer who have bone metastasis. However, there is an issue which I [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
One thing I have noticed at some of the support groups I run is that there seems to be a very uneven distribution of when men start taking Zoledronic Acid (ZA). Hormone therapy (ADT) has many negative side effects and the loss of bone mineral density (thinning of the bones) that ZA (and similar drugs) [...]
The number of cancer survivors is increasing, soon to be as many of 13 million of us in the world! Bones are often affected in cancer survivors, usually a result of bone metastases, or of anti-cancer therapies which can contribute to bone loss and fragility. Bone disease in cancer survivors can result both from the [...]
Researchers at Johns Hopkins has concluded that metastasis-free survival appeared to independently predictor of overall survival (OS) in men with recurrent prostate cancer who underwent androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) after developing metastases. Men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer (PSA only) tend to survive for long periods so the FDA gold standard for clinical trial endpoint [...]
A study from Michael T. Schweizer, MD, and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Md. concluded that the longer the metastasis-free survival after a radical prostatectomy the longer overall survival in men who experience biochemical recurrence (PSA only recurrence) of their prostate cancer. This conclusion was made from a retrospectively study of 450 men [...]
