Back to Journals » Clinical Pharmacology: Advances and Applications » Volume 5 » Issue 1
Impact of denosumab on bone mass in cancer patients
Authors Brown-Glaberman U, Stopeck AT
Received 16 April 2013
Accepted for publication 27 May 2013
Published 4 July 2013 Volume 2013:5(1) Pages 117—129
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/CPAA.S30330
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 3
Ursa Brown-Glaberman, Alison T Stopeck
University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
Abstract: Cancer therapy-induced bone loss (CTIBL) is a form of secondary osteoporosis associated with systemic chemotherapy and hormonal ablation therapy. The monitoring and treatment of CTIBL is an important component of comprehensive cancer care, especially for patients with curable disease and long life expectancies. Whereas oral bisphosphonates remain the most commonly used therapeutic option for CTIBL, additional treatment options may be required for patients who do not respond adequately or are intolerant to bisphosphonates, have renal insufficiency, or are receiving treatment with nephrotoxic medications. For these patients, denosumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), offers an effective and well-tolerated alternative. Several recent randomized trials have examined the use of denosumab as treatment for CTIBL associated with hormone ablation therapy for breast and prostate cancer. Recent data suggest a possible role for RANKL inhibitors in both chemoprevention and the prevention of cancer recurrence through direct effects on breast tissue and breast cancer stem cells. The outcomes of several international Phase III clinical trials currently underway will help clarify the role of denosumab in patients undergoing cancer therapy.
Keywords: denosumab, osteoporosis, osteopenia, hormone ablation therapy, cancer therapy-induced bone loss, chemotherapy
© 2013 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.