Original Contribution The impact of urinary cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen in patients with prostate cancer receiving long-term risedronate treatment and androgen-deprivation therapy
Masaomi Ikeda,1 Takefumi Satoh,1 Ken-ichi Tabata,1 Kazumasa Matsumoto,1
Hiromichi Ishiyama,2 Yusuke Inoue, Kazushige Hayakawa,2 Shiro Baba1
1 Department of Urology, Kitasato University School of Medicine2 Department of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, Kitasato University School of Medicine3 Depertment of Diagnostic Radiology, Kitasato University School of Medicine
Objective: To investigate predictive factors and the incidence of a marker for severely suppressed bone turnover (SSBT) associated with long-term risedronate treatment for patients with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Methods: From April 2004 to April 2007, 38 patients who had received risedronate (2.5 mg/d) simultaneously with ADT for more than 3 years were enrolled in this study. Baseline assessments in all patients included urinary cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) and bone mineral density, with measurements repeated every 6 months. Urinary NTx falling to <13.0 nmol bone collagen equivalents per mmol of creatinine was used as a marker for SSBT (SSBTM). Results: SSBTM was confirmed in 4 patients (11%). The mean time from beginning the risedronate treatment to detectable SSBTM was 4.5 years (range, 2.5-5.5 years). The mean (SD) age was 69.5 (1.2) years in the SSBTM group compared with 75.1 (6.4) years in the non-SSBTM group (P = 0.039). Conclusions: SSBTM associated with long-term treatment with risedronate for patients with prostate cancer receiving ADT was confirmed. The results suggest that careful monitoring of bone turnover markers is needed during long-term bisphosphonate treatment, especially in younger patients. Key words: prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy, bone turnover marker
long-term ADT,4 and continuous ADT decreases bone
Introduction
mineral density (BMD) and increases the risk of bone
urrent data from the Prostate Strategic Urologic
Bisphosphonates are agents that inhibit the
Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare database of the
proliferation and differentiation of osteoclasts and repress
United States show an increase in recent years in the
bone resorption by osteoclasts. Bisphosphonates, such
proportion of patients with localized and advanced
as alendronate, pamidronate, risedronate, and zoledronic
prostate cancer who receive androgen deprivation therapy
acid, have already been used as first-line treatment for
(ADT).1,2 Data on current prostate cancer treatment from
osteoporosis and have also been reported to prevent the
the Japan Study Group of Prostate Cancer (J-CaP) shows
bone loss caused by ADT.7-9 In addition, studies reporting
that primary ADT is chosen to treat localized and
7 and 10 years of experience with risedronate and
advanced prostate cancer for 59.0% of patients.3
alendronate, respectively, suggest that long-term
Possible adverse events of ADT, which involves
treatment with these agents appears to be safe, with no
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, are
increased risk of fracture or other adverse effects at doses
generally related to changing levels of hormones and
include hot flushes, loss of muscle mass, erectile
Although the long-term efficacy and safety of
dysfunction, fatigue, anemia, and osteoporosis.
bisphosphonates have been investigated and documented,
Osteoporosis is a particularly serious complication of
an increasing number of recent reports draw attention to
Received 28 November 2011, accepted 5 January 2012Correspondence to: Masaomi Ikeda, Department of Urology, Kitasato University School of Medicine1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, JapanE-mail: ikeda.masaomi@grape.plala.or.jp
a possible correlation between long-term alendronate and
mmol of Cr.22 We therefore used urinary NTx of <13.0
the occurrence of atypical insufficiency fractures owing
nmol BCE/mmol・Cr as a marker for SSBT (SSBTM).
to what is known as severely suppressed bone turnover
The non-SSBTM was defined as having 13.0 nmol BCE/
(SSBT).14-19 In experimental animals, bisphosphonates
have been shown to inhibit normal repair of microdamagearising from marked suppression of bone turnover, which,
in turn, results in accumulation of microdamage.20
BMD of the posteroanterior lumbar spine and proximal
We investigated the incidence of an SSBT marker
femur was determined by DXA using a Hologic QDR
(SSBTM) associated with long-term risedronate treatment
4500A/SL densitometer (Hologic, Waltham, MA, USA)
for patients with prostate cancer receiving ADT. In
in all patients. The DXA device was standardized and
addition, predictive factors were analyzed in the patients
calibrated using the Anthropomorphic Spine Phantom
(Hologic). In vivo precision assessment was performedaccording to the International Society for ClinicalDensitometry recommendation.23 By determining
Materials and Methods
precision error (0.012 g/cm2) and least significant change
(0.034 g/cm2 at 95% confidence interval [95% CI]), it
Study participants were recruited at Kitasato University
was confirmed that sufficiently precise assessment was
Hospital, and all patients had prostate cancer and had not
done in our hospital. Serum concentrations of testosterone
previously received any hormonal therapy (hormone
(SRL, Tokyo) were measured by radioimmunoassay.
naïve). From April 2004 to April 2007, 38 patients who
Urine concentrations of NTx (SRL) were measured by
had received risedronate (2.5 mg/d) simultaneously with
ADT (combined GnRH agonist and antiandrogen
We monitored for adverse events every 3 months
treatment or monotherapy with a GnRH agonist) for more
through physical examination as well as assays for serum
than 3 years were enrolled in this study. Men with
creatinine/calcium and other chemical variables. Adverse
metabolic bone disease, history of treatment for
events were scored using the National Cancer Institute
osteoporosis, a serum calcium level <8.4 mg/dL or >10.6
Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events,
mg/dL, or a serum creatinine (Cr) concentration >1.5
mg/dL were excluded. BMD of the posteroanteriorlumbar spine (L2-4) and proximal femur was determined
by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). T score
The primary study endpoint was to confirm patients with
was calculated from a Japanese male reference database.21Patients with a T score of ≤2.5 were excluded. All patientsprovided written informed consent. Table 1. Patient characteristics (n = 38)
Eligible patients received risedronate (2.5 mg/d)
simultaneously with the initiation of ADT. At baseline,
the BMD of all patients was assessed by DXA and urinary
cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) was
measured; tests were repeated every 6 months. Serum
testosterone and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were
measured at baseline. Serum calcium, alkaline
phosphatase (ALP) and other chemical variables were
monitored every 3 months. Urine samples for
measurement of bone turnover markers were obtained in
ALP, alkaline phosphatase; BMD, bone mineral density; SD,
According to the Japanese Osteoporosis Society
standard deviation; PSA, prostate-specific antigen; NTx, cross-
guidelines, the normal range of urinary NTx in males is
linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen; BCE, bone collagen
13.0-66.2 nmol bone collagen equivalents (BCE) per
Urinary NTx of long-term risedronate treatment
SSBTM based on the defining criteria. Statistical analyses
mmol・Cr, a statistically significant difference (P = 0.021).
were performed by the Mann-Whitney test using
The mean BMD and T score of the posteroanterior lumbar
StatView, version 5.0 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA).
spine and the femoral neck were not significantly different
All P values were 2-sided, and P < 0.05 was considered
between the baseline and SSBT. The mean time from
statistically significant. Values are reported as mean ±
beginning of the risedronate treatment to SSBTM
standard deviation (SD) unless otherwise specified.
detection was 4.5 years (range, 2.5-5.5 years).
A comparison of the factors related to SSBTM is
shown in Table 3. Of the factors evaluated, only the age
differed significantly. The mean age was 69.5 ± 1.2
The clinical characteristics of all entry patients are listed
years in the SSBTM group compared with 75.1 ± 6.4
in Table 1. Of the 38 patients, the mean age was 74.5
years in the non-SSBTM group (P = 0.039). The mean
years (range, 56-86 years), and the mean PSA was 51.2
PSA was 101.5 ± 158.6 ng/mL in the SSBTM group
± 82.9 ng/mL. The mean administering duration of
and 45.3 ± 71.2 ng/mL in the non-SSBT group. These
risedronate was 4.2 years (range, 3.0-4.8 years). The
differences did not reach statistical significance (P =
mean urinary NTx at the baseline was 26.3 ± 14.2 nmol
0.642). Moreover, treatment duration of risedronate,
BCE/mmol・Cr. The mean BMD of the posteroanterior
hemoglobin, ALP, calcium, and serum testosterone were
lumbar spine and femoral neck was 1.002 ± 0.25 g/cm2
not statistically significant factors between the groups.
and 0.876 ± 0.15 g/cm2, respectively.
During treatment, adverse events related to risedronate
Among the 38 patients, SSBTM was confirmed in 4
were never higher than grade 3 (NCI-CTCAE v.3.0).
patients (11%) based on the defining criterion. The
Neither severe gastrointestinal complaints nor
outcome data comparison between baseline and SSBTM
osteonecrosis of the jaw were reported in any of the
detection are listed in Table 2. Of 4 patients, the mean
patients. There were no cases of insufficiency fracture in
urinary NTx at the baseline was 18.8 ± 3.24 nmol BCE/
the patients who had confirmed SSBTM. However, 2
mmol・Cr and with SSBT was 9.8 ± 2.86 nmol BCE/
patients received palliative radiation therapy to treat pain
Table 2. Outcome data comparison between baseline and urinary NTx of <13.0 nmol BCE/mmol・Cr as a SSBTM (n = 4 ) SSBTM, marker for severely suppressed bone turnover; NS, not significant
Table 3. Comparison of predictive factors between SSBTM group and non-SSBTM group
due to adverse events, were similar between eachtreatment and its respective control arm. However, recentreports suggested a link between long-term alendronate
Discussion
therapy and the development of atypical insufficiency
Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed
fractures.14-19 This is thought to be due to SSBT leading
cancer and the sixth leading cause of male cancer death
to impaired bone remodeling, accumulation of
in the world, accounting for 14% (903,500) of the total
microdamage in bone and increased skeletal fragility.
new cancer cases in 2008.24 Incidence rates vary by
Odvina et al.19 reported on 9 patients who had sustained
more than 25-fold worldwide, with the highest rates
spontaneous, nontraumatic and nonpathologic fractures
recorded primarily in the developed countries of Oceania,
while receiving long-term alendronate therapy (>3 years).
Europe, and North America, largely because of the wide
Furthermore, Goh et al.18 and Kwek et al.17 reported 17
utilization of PSA testing that detects clinically important
patients receiving long-term alendronate therapy
tumors. In addition, incidence of prostate cancer and
(average, 4.8 years) with low-energy subtrochanteric
related mortality are rapidly increasing in Japan.
Although ADT is usually given to patients with locally
Clinically, SSBT is characterized by spontaneous or
advanced prostate cancer or metastasis not only in Japan
atraumatic fractures involving the skeletal areas that are
but also in the United States, the frequency of ADT being
rich in cortical bone, with fractures occurring at atypical
used to treat localized disease is also increasing in clinical
sites for patients with osteoporosis, such as the femoral
practice.3 Furthermore, several randomized controlled
shaft, pubis, or ischium, during long-term alendronate
trials show an overall survival benefit of neoadjuvant
therapy. SSBT is histologically defined by a reduced
and adjuvant ADT, and this combination treatment has
osteoblastic surface and an osteoclastic surface with
had a large impact.25-27 Therefore, the number of patients
decreased or absent tetracycline labeling.19 These
undergoing ADT may increase worldwide.
histomorphometric findings are similar to those of
Recent studies suggest that starting ADT earlier in
adynamic bone disease in patients with renal failure.33
the course of prostate cancer may improve survival, but
Most patients displayed low urinary NTx and serum
this approach will also prolong the hypogonadal state
osteocalcin, but serum bone-specific ALP was
and could thus increase the risk of osteoporosis. With
long-term ADT, osteoporosis is an important clinical issue
In the present study, SSBTM was revealed in 4 of the
for men. Men are estimated to lose BMD at a rate of
38 patients (11%) with prostate cancer who received long-
≤1% annually with advancing age, and 1 in 8 men >50
term risedronate treatment with ADT during a follow-up
years old will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture
of more than 3 years. The mean age in the SSBTM group
in their lifetime.8 Shahinian et al.6 reported that of men
and non-SSBTM group was 69.5 ± 1.2 years and 75.1
surviving ≥5 years after the diagnosis of prostate cancer,
± 6.4 years, respectively (P = 0.039). To our knowledge,
19.4% of those who received ADT had a fracture
this is the first report to find a high risk of SSBTM in
compared with 12.6% of those not receiving ADT. The
benefit of bisphosphonate therapy for male osteoporosis
The present study was limited by the data on SSBTM
has been suggested by previous reports.28 A second-
not being from a randomized trial. Additional limitations
generation intravenous bisphosphonate (pamidronate)
include the small sample size, lack of bone biopsy and
was shown to inhibit the decrease of BMD in prostate
relatively short follow-up. However, around 10% of
cancer patients receiving ADT,9 while a third-generation
patients with prostate cancer had SSBTM during ADT
intravenous bisphosphonate (zoledronic acid) actually
with long-term risedronate treatment. Thus, we must not
reversed BMD decline.29 Another third-generation oral
only take care of osteoporosis, but also monitor a patient's
bisphosphonate (risedronate) was shown to recover bone
bone turnover. This may be critical given the potential
loss in patients with prostate cancer undergoing ADT.8
for a long life span in patients with prostate cancer.
T h e l o n g - t e r m t o l e r a b i l i t y a n d s a f e t y o f
In conclusion, SSBTM associated with long-term
bisphosphonates have been widely studied and
risedronate treatment for patients with prostate cancer
documented.10,11,30-32 After long-term treatment with
receiving ADT was confirmed. These results suggest
alendronate, risedronate, or zoledronic acid, the incidence
that careful monitoring of bone turnover markers is
of overall adverse events, serious adverse events, or drug-
needed during long-term bisphosphonate treatment.
related adverse events, as well as the withdrawal rates
Urinary NTx of long-term risedronate treatment
12. Ensrud KE, Barrett-Connor EL, Schwartz A, et al. Acknowledgments
Randomized trial of effect of alendronate continuation
We thank Yukitoshi Ohta, R.T., Erina Sato, C.R.C., and
versus discontinuation in women with low BMD:
Mineko Uemae, R.T. for their helpful data management.
results from the Fracture Intervention Trial long-termextension. J Bone Miner Res 2004; 19: 1259-69.
13. Bone HG, Hosking D, Devogelaer JP, et al. Ten
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