Advances in prevention and treatment of bone metastases in prostate cancer. Role of RANK/RANKL inhibition.

BACKGROUND: Bone metastases are a common complication of prostate cancer, so treatment and prevention are essential to slow the progression of the disease and the occurrence of skeletal related events (SREs), which have devastating consequences for the quality of life of patients.

SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE: Bone metastases are characterized by increased bone turnover and altered balance between osteogenesis and osteolysis, with activation of the RANK and its ligand (RANKL). In patients with metastatic prostate cancer, bisphosphonates have been the bone-targeted agents most commonly used to date. Zoledronic acid has demonstrated efficacy in the reduction and delay of SREs in patients with bone metastases. Denosumab, a RANKL inhibitor, has been demonstrated to be superior to zoledronic acid in the prevention of SREs in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Both agents are being considered, along with other new bone-targeted agents, for the prevention of bone metastases in patients with nonmetastatic CRPC, where denosumab has already demonstrated superiority over placebo.

CONCLUSIONS: Denosumab and zoledronic acid prevent SREs in patients with prostate cancer and bone metastases. Denosumab also has a potential role in delaying bone metastases in nonmetastatic patients. Advances in the treatment of CRPC include an increasing focus on prevention of the progression of bone disease.