DESESPERATE CASES

Some of the cases of prostate cancer diagnosed every year progress to an advanced stage. The usual treatment consists of hormone therapy. Although it is effective for  the majority of patients, some of the men will become resistant to the therapy and will develop metastases. In this event, there are treatments that can help. However, when there are no metastases, there is no therapy available. The only thing that can be done “is to wait for the metastases to reach the bones,” says Dr Saad. Depending on various risk factors, it can take anywhere between 12 and 24 months for metastases to appear, after which the end is inevitable.

FROM OSTEOPOROSIS TO CANCER

For the past several years, all attempts to find a way of reducing the appearance of  metastases have failed. Indeed, the five major projects throughout the world were in vain. Enter Denosumab, a drug that has proved to be effective in treating osteoporosis as well as metastases. This drug had been known for its ability to prevent fractures. “It struck us as obvious to try to use its properties to protect and even strengthen bones for cases of prostate cancer that no longer responded to hormone therapy,” notes Dr Saad.

AN INNOVATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT

In light of this idea, Saad and his colleagues conducted a clinical trial with 1,432 men with prostate cancer. Some were administered Denosumab while others received a placebo. The idea was to see whether Denosumab could delay the appearance of bone metastases. The patients were subsequently monitored with X-rays.

The results were more than encouraging. In the trial group of men who received the drug, metastasis was delayed significantly compared to the placebo group. For the first time ever, a drug was found that worked. “It’s absolutely fantastic that after so many failures, we finally came up with positive results,” declares Saad. Along with his Harvard colleague, Dr Matthew Smith, Saad will soon take to the road to present these unique findings at various international conferences.

FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE

These research findings will have a dramatic impact throughout the world. Not only does Denosumab delay the appearance of bone metastases, it also helps in controlling the  acute pain that accompanies them. However, research will continue, to better target  at-risk patients and to identify the best strategy for using this new “therapeutic  weapon.” Although the drug is not yet available in Canada and several steps lie ahead, Dr Saad is quite happy to be in a position to offer a glimmer of hope to his  patients.