Denosumab vs. Zometa

CourtneyL · 06-29-2010, 05:35 PM

Just curious if anyone here has switched from Zometa to Denosumab for treatment of active bone metastases?

Results from my latest PET showed NED in lungs/liver but confusingly there was both regression and progression of skeletal metastases. Onc is recommending the switch based on evidence that Denosumab is more effective.

Any experience?

I'm also going to post another thread about the results of my PET and a question about what I should do in light of the vaccine trial that I'm on. Any opinions/thoughts are welcome. I'm at a crossroads and don't really know what I should do at this point.

Thank you all!

kiwigirl · 06-29-2010, 09:42 PM

I guess it would depend on how many vaccines you have had as to whether you continue or not. May be the vaccine is helping with the regression. Since your on that trial you could ask the Tumor Vaccine Group on their opinion to compare with your onc. I would hope that staying on the trial would be to your advantage. Sorry i can't offer any other advice. You have to do whats right for you!

Lani · 06-29-2010, 11:06 PM

As I understand it Denosumab has only been FDA approved for osteoporosis for less than a month it seems. It is not FDA approved for breast and prostate cancer metastases, where it remains in clinical trials. In fact I seem to remember the FDA returning the drug to the company for more work before approval for prostate cancer.

It appears so far to be more effective than Zometa for osteoporosis(and may also be so for breast cancer), but has not been used in a large enough number of patients to have worked out all its side effects.

It may or may not have the additional antitumor effects that bisphosphonates have (or it may have others) as it is in an entirely different class of drugs, working in a totally different way.

It seems your doctor is recommending off-label use. The statistics are not yet in to do a full cost/benefit analysis of his/her suggestion, so it has more to do with your level of comfort.

Feel free to go to Amgen's website and try to look up the product information about side effects so far etc.

Good luck!

CourtneyL · 06-30-2010, 09:18 AM

Thanks Lani (and Kiwigirl!) - If we switched over to it, it would be because I am developing symptoms of osteoporosis (wink wink). My onc thinks it is a more robust drug and could be more effective at controlling the bone mets. I will check out Amgen's website and read the literature myself. As always, you are a wealth of knowledge.