<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<IndexPatientGuideline ID="x23015" Name="Guideline Statement 39" IsComponent="true" Changed="20260508T18:17:05" Created="20260506T17:42:13" Published="20260512T08:05:16" SiteBaseUrl="https://www.auanet.org" Locale="" XPowerPath="/Home/Guidelines &amp; Quality/Guidelines/Clinical Guidelines/Advanced Prostate Cancer/Page Elements/Bone Health/Guideline Statement 39">
  <IGX_Categories Count="0" CategoryIds="" />
  <LingualMaps />
  <Header type="string" UID="faf9fd2842b549d09e761cd943c2be20" label="Header" readonly="false" hidden="false" required="false" indexable="false" CIID="">Guideline Statement 39</Header>
  <BodyCopy type="xhtml" UID="41a2d8598c364193bbfe9ad86d7bcd3c" label="Body Copy" readonly="false" hidden="false" required="false" indexable="false" Height="" CIID="">&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;In advanced prostate cancer patients at high fracture risk due to bone loss, clinicians should recommend preventive treatments with bisphosphonates or denosumab and referral to physicians who have familiarity with the management of osteoporosis when appropriate. (&lt;em&gt;Clinical Principle&lt;/em&gt;)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</BodyCopy>
  <DiscussionLinkName type="string" UID="b364402056154f78b38cd8d663eaf3ba" label="Discussion Link Name" readonly="false" hidden="false" required="false" indexable="false" CIID="">Discussion</DiscussionLinkName>
  <DiscussionTitle type="string" UID="ceedafe4ad314b5d8d3225bc0083b81c" label="Discussion Title" readonly="false" hidden="false" required="false" indexable="false" CIID="">Discussion</DiscussionTitle>
  <DiscussionBody type="xhtml" UID="9bbbac02721d4eefba59c63ee7ff9007" label="Discussion Body" readonly="false" hidden="false" required="false" indexable="false" Height="" CIID="">&lt;p&gt;Pharmacologic strategies for osteoporosis prevention and treatment include oral bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate, pamidronate), intravenous bisphosphonates (e.g., zoledronic acid), and subcutaneous RANK ligand inhibitors (e.g., denosumab). It is important to note that the recommended dose and treatment schedules for zoledronic acid and denosumab are different for the indications of osteoporotic fracture prevention and SRE prevention. For example, zoledronic acid is usually administered yearly for osteoporosis-related fracture prevention compared to monthly or every three months for metastatic cancer SRE prevention. Similarly, denosumab has been administered as 60mg every 6 months for osteoporosis compared to 120mg monthly for SRE prevention.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A meta-analysis&lt;sup&gt;156&lt;/sup&gt; included 15 trials of 2,634 men with prostate cancer receiving ADT (with or without bone metastases) randomized to receive a bisphosphonate versus placebo. A meta-analysis&lt;sup&gt;156&lt;/sup&gt; included 15 trials of 2,634 men with prostate cancer receiving ADT (with or without bone metastases) randomized to receive a bisphosphonate versus placebo. Men receiving bisphosphonates had significantly reduced risk of osteoporosis (RR=0.39; 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.55; number needed to treat [NNT] to prevent one additional patient with osteoporosis: 2.82). Osteoporosis-related fractures were also reduced among patients treated with bisphosphonates (RR=0.80; 95% CI: 0.69 to 0.94; NNT to prevent one additional fracture: 167). Amongst bisphosphonates, the greatest reduction in fractures was observed for zoledronic acid (NNT: 14.9).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Denosumab increases bone mineral density in prostate cancer patients and reduces fracture risk as well. In a trial of 1,468 men receiving ADT for prostate cancer,&lt;sup&gt;157&lt;/sup&gt; patients were randomly assigned to denosumab (60mg every 6 months) versus placebo. After 36 months, men receiving denosumab significantly increased bone mineral density at all measured sites and decreased risk of vertebral fractures at 36 months following randomization (1.5% versus 3.9%; RR=0.38; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.78; p=0.006).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Given the uncertainties of management of osteopenia and osteoporosis in prostate cancer patients at risk for bone fractures, referral to physicians who have familiarity with management of osteoporosis should be considered for select patients. These may include endocrinologists, orthopedic surgeons, primary care physicians, or other specialists who focus on bone heath. Additionally, an uncommon but serious toxicity of bisphosphonates or denosumab is osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Because men who need dental extractions while on these agents are at higher risk for ONJ, clinicians should consider evaluation by a dentist prior to initiation.&lt;/p&gt;</DiscussionBody>
</IndexPatientGuideline>