Denosumab versus zoledronic acid for bone metastases in castration-resistant prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Bone metastases are a hallmark of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), occurring in approximately 84% of patients. These metastases result in severe skeletal-related events (SREs), such as pathological fractures, spinal cord compression, and the need for radiation therapy or surgery. This meta-analysis evaluates the impact of bisphosphonates (zoledronic acid [ZA]) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand-inhibitors (denosumab) as adjunctive therapies for patients with prostate cancer who have developed bone metastases. A systematic and rigorous methodology was followed by adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines to ensure transparency and reliability. A comprehensive search was conducted across medical databases and relevant publications to identify studies comparing denosumab and ZA in managing skeletal complications in patients with CRPC. Inclusion criteria required studies to report outcomes such as SREs, symptomatic skeletal events (SSEs), bone metastasis-free survival (BMFS), progression-free survival (PFS), adverse events, and cost implications. Data extraction was performed using standardized templates to collect demographic, clinical, and economic data. The meta-analysis demonstrated that denosumab was superior to ZA in reducing SREs and SSEs in patients with CRPC. The total incidence of SREs was significantly lower with denosumab (40.7%) compared to ZA (59.3%, p=0.009). Similarly, the incidence of SSEs was reduced to 47.2% with denosumab, compared to 52.8% with ZA (p=0.029). In addition, denosumab extended BMFS by 4.2 months (33.2 vs. 29.5 months, p=0.031) and PFS by 2.4 months (21.7 vs. 19.3 months, p=0.027). However, overall survival was comparable between the two treatments. Adverse events were slightly more frequent with denosumab (93.1% vs. 91.4%), as well as higher rates of hypocalcemia (2.2% vs. 1.46%) and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) (2.8% vs. 2.41%). This meta-analysis demonstrates that denosumab is superior to ZA in reducing the incidence and delaying the onset of SREs and SSEs in patients with CRPC and bone metastases. Denosumab also extends BMFS, providing an additional clinical advantage. However, these benefits come with a higher risk of adverse events such as hypocalcemia and ONJ, as well as significantly increased costs. While ZA remains an effective treatment, denosumab may be the preferred option for patients at higher risk of SREs or those who can tolerate its adverse effects and cost.
- Kruger TE, Miller AH, Godwin AK, Wang J. Bone sialoprotein and osteopontin in bone metastasis of osteotropic cancers. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2014;89(3):330-341. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2013.08.013
- Gandaglia G, Leni R, Bray F, et al. Epidemiology and prevention of prostate cancer. Eur Urol Oncol. 2021;4(6):877-892. doi: 10.1016/j.euo.2021.09.006
- Terrisse S, Karamouza E, Parker CC, et al. Overall survival in men with bone metastases from castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with bone-targeting radioisotopes: A meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized clinical trials. JAMA Oncol. 2020;6(2):206-216. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.4097
- Chodak GW, Thisted RA, Gerber GS, et al. Results of conservative management of clinically localized prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 1994;330(4):242-248. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199401273300403
- Heidenreich A, Aus G, Bolla M, Joniau S, Matveev VB, Schmid HP, Zattoni F. EAU guidelines on prostate cancer. Eur Urol. 2008;53(1):68-80. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2007.09.002
- Kirby M, Hirst C, Crawford ED. Characterising the castration-resistant prostate cancer population: A systematic review. Int J Clin Pract. 2011;65(11):1180-1192. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2011.02799.x
- Labrecque MP, Coleman IM, Brown LG, et al. Molecular profiling stratifies diverse phenotypes of treatment-refractory metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. J Clin Invest. 2019;129(10):4492-4505. doi: 10.1172/JCI128212
- European Medicines Agency (EMA). Zometa® (Zoledronic Acid): Summary of Product Characteristics. Basel, Switzerland: Novartis Europharm Limited; 2014.
- European Medicines Agency (EMA). XGEVA® (Denosumab): Summary of Product Characteristics. Netherlands: Amgen Europe B.V.; 2014.
- Coleman R, Body JJ, Aapro M, et al. Bone health in cancer patients: ESMO clinical practice guidelines. Ann Oncol. 2014;25(Suppl 3):124-137. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdu103
- Rosen LS, Gordon D, Tchekmedyian NS, et al. Long-term efficacy and safety of zoledronic acid in the treatment of skeletal metastases in patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma and other solid tumors: A randomized, Phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Cancer. 2004;100(12):2613-2621. doi: 10.1002/cncr.20308
- Grávalos C, Rodríguez C, Sabino A, et al. SEOM clinical guideline for bone metastases from solid tumours. Clin Transl Oncol. 2016;18(12):1243-1253. doi: 10.1007/s12094-016-1590-1
- Terpos E, Kleber M, Engelhardt M, et al. European myeloma network guidelines for the management of multiple myeloma-related complications. Haematologica. 2015;100(10):1254-1266. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2014.117176
- Smith MR. Zoledronic acid to prevent skeletal complications in cancer: Corroborating the evidence. Cancer Treat Rev. 2005;31(Suppl 3):19-25. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2005.09.004
- McClung MR, Lewiecki EM, Cohen SB, et al. Denosumab in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density. N Engl J Med. 2006;354(8):821-831. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa044459
- Yee AJ, Raje NS. Denosumab for the treatment of bone disease in solid tumors and multiple myeloma. Future Oncol. 2018;14(3):195-203. doi: 10.2217/fon-2017-0403
- Smith MR, Coleman RE, Klotz L, et al. Denosumab for the prevention of skeletal complications in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: Comparison of skeletal-related events and symptomatic skeletal events. Ann Oncol. 2015;26(2):368-374. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdu519
- Raje N, Terpos E, Willenbacher W, et al. Denosumab versus zoledronic acid in bone disease treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: An international, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised, controlled, phase 3 study. Lancet Oncol. 2018;19(3):370-381. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(18)30072-X
- Henry DH, Costa L, Goldwasser F, et al. Randomized, double-blind study of denosumab versus zoledronic acid in the treatment of bone metastases in patients with advanced cancer (excluding breast and prostate cancer) or multiple myeloma. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29(9):1125-1132. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2010.31.3304
- Cleeland CS, Body JJ, Stopeck A, et al. Pain outcomes in patients with advanced breast cancer and bone metastases: Results from a randomized, double-blind study of denosumab and zoledronic acid. Cancer. 2013;119(4):832-838. doi: 10.1002/cncr.27789
- Zheng GZ, Chang B, Lin FX, et al. Meta-analysis comparing denosumab and zoledronic acid for treatment of bone metastases in patients with advanced solid tumours. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2017;26(4):e12541. doi: 10.1111/ecc.12541
- McInnes MDF, Moher D, Thombs BD, et al. Preferred reporting items for a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies: The PRISMA-DTA statement. JAMA. 2018;319(4):388-396. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.19163
- Stoffel ST, von Moos R, Thürlimann B, et al. Patterns of care and economic consequences of using bone-targeted agents for castration-sensitive prostate cancer patients with bone metastases to prevent skeletal-related events in Switzerland - the SAKK 95/16 prostate study. Swiss Med Wkly. 2021;151:w20464. doi: 10.4414/smw.2021.20464
- Smith MR, Egerdie B, Hernández Toriz N, et al. Denosumab in men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2009;361(8):745-755. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0809003
- Fizazi K, Carducci M, Smith M, et al. Denosumab versus zoledronic acid for treatment of bone metastases in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer: A randomised, double-blind study. Lancet. 2011;377(9768):813-822. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62344-6
- Smith MR, Saad F, Coleman R, et al. Denosumab and bone-metastasis-free survival in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer: Results of a phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2012;379(9810):39-46. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61226-9
- Stopeck AT, Fizazi K, Body JJ, et al. Safety of long-term denosumab therapy: Results from the open label extension phase of two phase 3 studies in patients with metastatic breast and prostate cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(1): 447-455. doi: 10.1007/s00520-015-2904-5