According to the latest statistical data, there are about two million people in the U.S. who suffer from prostate cancer and about for one third of them an androgen-deprivation therapy is prescribed, ...

According to the latest statistical data, there are about two million people in the U.S. who suffer from prostate cancer and about for one third of them an androgen-deprivation therapy is prescribed, featuring inhibition of the testosterone release. The point is that testosterone gives the signal on molecular level to start active cancer cells division and thus to spread to adjacent areas. A significant disadvantage of such kind of treatment is a bone loss in men through androgen-deprivation which leads to osteoporosis. To prevent it, in earlier clinical studies several medications were tested, including drugs knows as bisphosphonates. Unfortunately, none of those experiments appeared to be effective enough to reduce fracture risk.

Denosumab is a new approach to solve this problem. This drug is a fully-human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the development of the cells that destroy bones in the normal process of bone remodeling (osteoclasts in professional language). It is also being investigated in a therapy to stop bone loss in women suffering from osteoporosis.

The action of denosumab based on targeting rank ligand ?this is a protein that stimulates promotion of bone removal. This protein (RANKL) suppresses the natural protection of the organism against bone ruin. Osteoprotegerin (a protein called a cytokine), prevents the production and action of osteoclasts, and Denosumab imitates its endogenous effects.

Studies have been done where men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer took part, and they showed that twice-yearly intravenous infusion with denosumab enabled to improve bone density and block spinal fractures.

To implement this study for denosumab, men for whom an androgen-deprivation therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer was prescribed, were chosen at 156 cancer centers in North America as well as European countries. They were assigned to take injections of either denosumab or a placebo every six months within 3 years. Apart from this, during whole study period patients consume daily supplements - calcium and vitamin D. After three years analyses were taken at such monitored sites as the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip. They displayed following results: among those who was taking denosumab bone density was extensively increased and new vertebral fractures were reduced by approximately 62 percent. Then, in the treatment group forearm bone density at the radius also increased ?such change was not indicated with other drugs against osteoporosis.

Matthew Smith (PhD & MD) working in the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, and he headed of the Denosumab HALT Prostate Cancer Study Group which initiated the study. He says that this new medical has proved its efficiency in a therapy against fractures of patients diagnosed as a prostate cancer. At the moment clinical trial is also being carrying out and it will help to evaluate whether denosumab helps to avoid spread of prostate cancer to bone since this effect is most common area of metastases in prostate cancer survivors.