Pilot Study of Denosumab in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers Scheduled for Risk-Reducing Salpingo-Oophorectomy

This randomized pilot early phase I trial studies how well denosumab works in BRCA1/2 mutations carriers scheduled for risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To compare the effect of denosumab 120 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 1-2 doses to no treatment in the pre-surgical setting on Ki67 proliferation index by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the fimbrial end of the fallopian tube of premenopausal BRCA1/2 mutation carriers undergoing risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy, with or without hysterectomy.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess Ki67 proliferation index by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in ovarian surface epithelium and endometrium (if also undergoing a hysterectomy, \~20% of participants) after exposure to denosumab compared to no treatment.

II. To investigate other tissue-based biomarkers in the fimbrial end of the fallopian tube, ovarian surface epithelium, and endometrium (if also undergoing hysterectomy) after exposure to denosumab compared to no treatment, including:

IIa. Apoptosis with cleaved caspase-3 by IHC. IIb. Receptor activator of NF-KB (RANK) and RANK ligand (RANKL) expression by IHC.

IIc. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression by IHC. IId. CD44 and p53 expression by IHC. IIe. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phosphorylated-STAT3 (pSTAT3) expression by IHC.

III. To analyze gene expression profiling in the fimbrial end of the fallopian tube and ovarian surface epithelium after exposure to denosumab compared to no treatment.

IV. To investigate serum biomarkers at baseline (pre-treatment) and time of surgery (post-treatment) with denosumab compared to no treatment, including:

IVa. Progesterone. IVb. Estradiol. IVc. Denosumab drug levels. V. To investigate serial serum C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) levels from baseline (pre-treatment) to time of surgery to 9 months and 12 months after start of intervention with denosumab compared to no treatment.

VI. To monitor safety and adverse effects of denosumab compared to no treatment.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Beginning within 3 days of menstrual cycle, patients receive denosumab subcutaneously (SC) every 4 weeks for 1-2 doses and undergo risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy 14-28 days after last dose.

ARM II: Patients receive no treatment for 2-8 weeks and then undergo risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 6, 9, and 12 months.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants must be premenopausal (defined as \< 3 months since last menstrual period OR serum follicle-stimulating hormone \[FSH\] \< 20 mIU/mL)
* Documented germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes
* Participants must be scheduled for or in the process of scheduling a risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy - either bilateral or unilateral (if prior unilateral oophorectomy or salpingectomy for benign condition)
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 1 (Karnofsky \>= 70%)
* Leukocytes \>= 3,000/microliter
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/microliter
* Platelets \>= 100,000/microliter
* Total bilirubin =\< 2 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\])) =\< 1.5 x institutional ULN
* Creatinine clearance \>= 30 mL/min
* Serum calcium or albumin adjusted \>= 8.0 mg/dL and =\< 11.5 mg/dL
* Participant must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test 14 days prior to randomization or drug administration; the effects of denosumab on the developing human fetus at the recommended therapeutic dose may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women; women of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception from time of drug administration to time of surgery; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her study physician immediately
* Women currently on hormonal contraception (i.e., oral contraceptives, Mirena intrauterine device \[IUD\]) are eligible to participate if they have been on a stable dose for at least 3 months; women who have undergone bilateral tubal ligation are also eligible to participate in this study; there will be stratification for hormonal contraceptive use within 3 months prior to registration
* Participants must be willing to take supplemental oral calcium 1000 mg (two 500 mg tablets) and vitamin D3 1000 IU daily for six months (which will be supplied by the research study) after receiving denosumab treatment or no treatment
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document in English or Spanish or Hebrew
* Participants must have a dental examination =\< 6 months of study registration
* Willing to not undergo any other elective surgery procedure with general anesthesia or conscious sedation during the treatment period; the treatment period is completed after the last injection of denosumab is administered

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of ovarian cancer; history of breast cancer or any other malignancy is permitted if last chemotherapy treatment was greater than 6 months prior to registration and participant is not using endocrine therapy
* Previous treatment with denosumab (including Prolia for osteoporosis or Xgeva for bone metastases) or use of bisphosphonate within 3 months of registration to the study
* Participants receiving any other investigational agents
* History of allergic reactions or hypersensitivity attributed to denosumab or any components of denosumab or compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to denosumab, such as other RANKL inhibitors
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* Pregnant and breastfeeding women are excluded from this study because denosumab is an agent with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects; because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events (AEs) in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with denosumab, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with denosumab; there is no minimum amount of time since pregnancy/breastfeeding required before enrolling into the study; however, the date of delivery, pregnancy termination, or weaning from breastfeeding will be documented on case report forms; female subjects of child bearing potential and not willing to use, in combination with her partner, highly effective contraception during treatment will be excluded
* Use of endocrine therapy (selective estrogen receptor modulator, aromatase inhibitor, gonadotrophin releasing hormone \[GnRH\] agonist) within 6 months of registration to the study
* Prior history or current evidence of osteonecrosis or osteomyelitis of the jaw, evidence of untreated local gum or oral infection, or non-healed dental or oral surgery
* Active dental or jaw conditions which require oral surgery/dental procedures, including tooth extraction within 6 months of registration to the study; dental fillings are permitted within 6 months of study registration
* Other risk factors for the development of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) including poor oral hygiene, use of a dental appliance, immunosuppressive therapy, treatment with angiogenesis inhibitors, systemic corticosteroids, diabetes, or gingival infections
* Known sensitivity to any of the products to be administered during the study (e.g., calcium or vitamin D)
* Known serious infections, including a history of active hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); screening for these infections is not required for study enrollment
* Hypocalcemia (serum calcium or albumin adjusted calcium \< 8.0 mg/dL) or renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance \< 30 mL/min)
* Women with known osteoporosis or history of osteoporotic (fragility) fracture of the spine