A drug used to
prevent bone problems caused by multiple myeloma or by
solid tumors that have spread to the bone. It is also used
in certain patients to treat giant cell tumor of the bone
that cannot be removed by surgery. Xgeva is also used to
treat hypercalcemia that is caused by cancer and did not
get better after treatment with bisphosphonates. Xgeva
binds to a protein called RANKL, which keeps RANKL from
binding to another protein called RANK on the surface of
certain bone cells, including bone cancer cells. This may
help keep bone from breaking down and cancer cells from
growing. Xgeva may also prevent the loss of calcium from
the bones. It contains the active ingredient denosumab.
Xgeva is a type of monoclonal antibody.