Denosumab HALTs bone loss during AI therapy for breast cancer

Increased fracture risk associated with treatment-related loss of bone mineral density (BMD) is a serious problem in patients with breast cancer. The HALT Breast Cancer 135 study was the first phase III study to investigate the effects of denosumab on BMD in patients with low bone mass who were receiving aromatase inhibitor treatment. Study results were presented during a late-breaking session at the 30th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) [San Antonio, Texas, US; December 2007]. Over a period of 24 months, denosumab treatment was associated with significant increases in BMD at trabecular and cortical bone sites across the skeleton. In addition, denosumab was generally well tolerated, with rates of adverse events similar to placebo.