Medication improves survival rates in prostate cancer patients

A medication for skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases was shown to significantly improve bone metastasis-free survival rates in prostate cancer patients, according to a new trial.

In Amgen’s Phase 3 trial of denosumab (XGEVA), the biotech manufacturer found that denosumab improved median bone metastasis-free survival by 4.2 months in men with castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Overall survival rates were similar between denosumab and the placebo groups. “We believe that these results are meaningful, considering no other product has been able to successfully demonstrate a result in this setting,” said Lisa Rooney, senior manager, corporate communications for Amgen.

“Our data recommends that XGEVA, which antagonizes the RANK Ligand axis, limits the ability of tumors to colonize bone, an important finding for men at risk for bone metastases and their healthcare providers,” said Roger Perlmutter, MD, PhD, executive vice president of research and development at Amgen.

A second Amgen study continues to evaluate this type of outcome in adjuvant breast cancer patients (D-CARE). “This study is testing the effectiveness of XGEVA as adjuvant treatment for women with early-stage breast cancer who are at high risk of disease recurrence,” Rooney said.

Denosumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to RANK Ligand, a protein essential for the formation, function, and survival of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone). Denosumab prevents RANK Ligand from activating its receptor, RANK, on the surface of osteoclasts, which decrease bone destruction and makes the environment less conducive to tumor growth.