"In this preclinical study, RANKL inhibition reduced mammary tumor formation in hormone-dependent mouse models," said Roger M. Perlmutter, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "These studies suggest that RANKL inhibition might also prove effective in the treatment of human malignancy. We are encouraged by these results, which could ultimately prove important for patients with breast cancer."

In previous preclinical studies, RANKL inhibition has been shown to reduce skeletal tumor progression and improve survival of tumor-bearing animals.  The current study demonstrates the additional ability of RANKL inhibition to reduce the development of tumors outside the skeleton in hormone-dependent mammary tumor models.

RANKL and its target receptor RANK are key factors in bone remodeling and bone destruction associated with bone metastasis. Denosumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that specifically inhibits RANKL, inhibits osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast-mediated bone destruction.

SOURCE Amgen