Bisphosphonates and metastatic breast carcinoma

✍ Scribed by Allan Lipton

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 102 KB
• Volume: 97
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.11123

✦ Synopsis

Background:

Metastasis to the skeleton occurs in approximately 75% of patients with advanced breast cancer. it is the cause of much morbidity and decreased quality of life in these patients.

Methods:

Zoledronic acid (zoledronate) is a new, potent third-generation bisphosphonate that has recently been approved by the u.s. food and drug administration for the treatment of both osteolytic and osteoblastic bone metastases. a phase 3 clinical trial comparing the efficacy of zoledronic acid 4 and 8 mg compared with pamidronate 90 mg every 3-4 weeks has been completed.

Results:

A 15 minute infusion of 4 mg of zoledronic acid is at least as effective as 90 mg of pamidronate in preventing skeletal complications in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Conclusions:

Bisphosphonate treatment can delay skeletal events in patients with breast carcinoma that is metastatic to bone. future trials will build on the results achieved with bisphosphonate treatment.