Comparative effects of clodronate and calcitonin on bone in metastatic breast cancer: a histomorphometric study.
We studied the effects of long-term treatment with clodronate, calcitonin or placebo on bone in 36 normocalcaemic women with osteolytic metastases due to breast cancer. Clodronate (1.6 g daily given to 12 patients) induced a significant decrease in osteoclast surface and osteoclast number, and a significant fall in serum calcium and urinary excretion of calcium and hydroxyproline, an effect not noted after treatment with calcitonin (100 U in 12 patients) or in 12 placebo-treated patients. Treatment with clodronate did not abnormally suppress bone turnover nor impair mineralisation, as measured by bone formation and mineral apposition rates.
Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
T
T
Taube
I
I
Elomaa
C
C
Blomqvist
M N
MN
Beneton
J A
JA
Kanis
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000473:pathology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D004002:Clodronic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000473:pathology
D004002:Clodronic Acid; D002116:Calcitonin; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D002118:Calcium