Taking bisphosphonates as a part of our prostate cancer treatment puts all of us in direct risk of developing osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates have been found to place us in a high-risk state for developing osteonecrosis of the jaws (rotting of the jaw bones). It is now possible to use X-rays to detect "ghost sockets" in the [...]
Not a very big surprise but androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) substantially increases the risk for cardiovascular and bone-related problems, as well as for diabetes, according to a review of the medical literature published online April 27 in the journal Cancer. At the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Lockwood G. Taylor wrote a review [...]
A phase II trial was just completed at the University of Western Australia to investigate changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis in men on intermittent androgen-suppression therapy (IAST) over a period of three years. This trial, conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles [...]
A recent report from England, about the first-generation oral bisphosphonate sodium clodronate, claims to improve overall survival in men with metastatic but not localized prostate cancer, according to long-term data from two randomized controlled trials. Among the sample of 278 men all who had metastatic disease starting and who were responding to long-term hormone therapy, [...]
Presented at EAU on March 23, 2009 The drug Denosumab has shown itself both easy to tolerate by patients as well highly able to increases bone mineral density (BMD) when compared with placebo in men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The results of this multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study [...]
The occasionally discussed, but not often used, alternative hormone therapy, transdermal estrogen might be ready to soon move on to a phase III trial. A poster presentation of a phase II trial showed that transdermal estrogen patches drove down testosterone and PSA levels to a similar extent as an LHRH analog. The poster presentation was [...]
GTx announced in a company media release that it has requested that the FDA consider its new drug application (NDA) for the use of toremifene 80 mg to prevent bone fractures in men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). GTx has asked for a priority review of its application stating that “there are [...]
One of the constant questions that come up when considering whether to take intravenous bisphosphonates is the murky issue surrounding jaw or facile bone inflammation and infections. Most of us are aware of the risk and depending whom you speak with the issue is either a major problem or just a nonsense blip that will [...]
I recently met a prostate cancer survivor whose doctor prescribed a new “miracle drug” to treat his loss of bone density caused by hormone therapy. He was given a prescription for FORTEO® and told that this drug has proven itself a better alternative to bisphosphonates, the normal treatment for bone density loss. Forteo® is a [...]
According to data published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (2008; 26:4426-34), once a week, bisphosphonate therapy improves bone density and improves turnover in prostate cancer patients with nonmetastatic disease who are on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). A second year of bisphosphonate therapy provides additional skeletal benefit, whereas discontinuation results in bone loss and increased [...]
