Evaluating treatments for bone metastases in patients with melanoma

This study looked at patients with melanoma which had spread to the bones. They found that targeted bone treatments can reduce the risk of broken bones and other complications in these patients.

Melanoma spreads to the bones in 11-18% of patients. Cancer which has spread to the bone is called bone metastases (BMs). BMs can lead to complications called skeletal-related events (SREs). SREs include bone pain, broken bones, spinal cord damage, and the need for radiotherapy.

Bone-targeting agents (BTAs) are medications that support bone health and prevent them from breaking down. Their use in other cancers is well-established but it is not yet clear if they are effective in melanoma.

305 patients with melanoma and BMs were involved in this study. 90% had BMs in the spine. 61% had less than 5 BMs. Almost half were treated with bone-targeting agents (BTAs) to protect the bones. BTAs included bisphosphonates (osteoporosis drugs) and denosumab (Prolia).

47% of patients had at least one SRE, including broken bones (12%), spinal cord damage (7%), and the need for radiotherapy (37%). Patients who were treated early with BTAs were 62% less likely to suffer an SRE.  

Patients with BMs treated with targeted or immune therapies for melanoma had a 4 times higher survival compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone. Also, those who had both immune therapy and radiotherapy had the best outcomes.

This study showed that treatment with bone-targeting agents may reduce the risk of complications in patients with bone metastases from melanoma. Also, the authors suggested that immunotherapy and radiotherapy combined improved the outcomes of these patients.

This study was based on medical records, more studies are needed.