Among men with nonmetatastic prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy, once-weekly alendronate (Fosamax) improves bone density and decreases turnover, according to data published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (2008; 26:4426-34).
Among men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy, once-weekly alendronate (Fosamax) improves bone density and decreases turnover, according to data published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (2008; 26:4426-34).
A second year of alendronate provides additional skeletal benefit, whereas discontinuation results in bone loss and increased bone turnover, researchers say. Delay in bisphosphonate therapy appears detrimental to bone health.
In the study, first author Susan L. Greenspan, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues, analyzed 112 men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer. The patients were randomly assigned to alendronate, 70 mg once weekly, or placebo in a double-blind, partial-crossover trial with a second random assignment at year 2 for those who initially received active therapy. Outcomes included bone mineral density and bone turnover markers.
Men initially randomly assigned to alendronate and randomly reassigned at year 2 to continue had additional bone density gains at the spine (mean, 2.3%) and hip (mean, 1.3%; both p<.01); those randomly assigned to placebo in year 2 maintained density at the spine and hip but lost (mean, –1.9%; p<.01) at the forearm. Patients randomly assigned to begin alendronate in year 2 experienced improvements in bone mass at the spine and hip but experienced less of an increase compared with those who initiated alendronate at baseline.
Men receiving alendronate for 2 years experienced a mean 6.7% increase at the spine and a 3.2% at the hip (both p<.05). Bone turnover remained suppressed, the authors said.
Study finds disparities in management of mCSPC
April 17th 2024“These findings suggest that guideline recommended treatment intensification remains low for patients with mCSPC in both Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration, but especially for Black patients,” says Daniel J. George, MD.
Personalized therapeutic approaches in ccRCC remain challenging
April 15th 2024"As a kidney cancer community, we need to investigate these molecular subtypes prospectively in clinical trials to determine whether specific subtypes benefit from certain therapies or not," says David A. Braun, MD, PhD.