Bone-targeted agents in the treatment of bone metastases: RANK outsider or new kid on the block?

Stopeck AT, Lipton A, Body JJ et al.: Denosumab compared with zoledronic acid for the treatment of bone metastases in patients with advanced breast cancer: a randomized, double-blind study. Clin. Oncol. 28(35), 5132-5139 (2010). Bone is the most common site of recurrence in patients with advanced breast cancer. Bisphosphonates have revolutionized the care for patients with bone metastases by delaying and reducing skeletal complications. The RANK ligand inhibitor denosumab has been developed as a result of our enhanced understanding of bone physiology. In a recent randomized, double-blind trial, denosumab has been shown to be superior to zoledronic acid in delaying the onset of skeletal complications in advanced breast cancer patients. While these results are exciting, the absence of any survival benefit and the considerable cost of this agent mean that further quality-of-life data are needed before it becomes widely used as a new standard of care.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes