Pamidronate in the treatment of bone metastases: results of 2 dose-ranging trials in patients with breast or prostate cancer.
Four intravenous regimens of pamidronate (Aredia) were evaluated for palliative treatment of bone metastases in 2 randomized open-label trials in patients with breast cancer (n = 61) or prostate cancer (n = 58). In breast cancer patients, administration of pamidronate 60 mg every 4 weeks, 60 mg every 2 weeks, or 90 mg every 4 weeks for 3 months resulted in statistically and clinically significant reductions in bone pain, with accompanying decreases in biochemical markers of bone turnover; a regimen of 30 mg every 2 weeks was not effective. Healing of bone lesions was observed in 25% of breast cancer patients. In prostate cancer patients, the same regimens of pamidronate produced reductions in bone pain, but no dose-response relationship was apparent. Moreover, there were no consistent changes in biochemical indices in these patients, and no healing of bone lesions occurred. The different response to pamidronate in those 2 patient populations may reflect the different severity of metastatic disease at baseline. Side effects of pamidronate were mild and transient in both studies.
Lipton
A
A
Division of Medical Oncology, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University.
Glover
D
D
Harvey
H
H
Grabelsky
S
S
Zelenakas
K
K
Macerata
R
R
Seaman
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care; D000077268:Pamidronate; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D004164:Diphosphonates; D000077268:Pamidronate