New research findings on zoledronic acid: survival, pain, and anti-tumour effects.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the current evidence for clinical, anti-tumour, and survival benefits from zoledronic acid in patients with genitourinary cancers.


METHODS
Studies were identified through MEDLINE searches, review of bibliographies of relevant articles, and review of abstracts from scientific meetings.


RESULTS
Among patients with bone metastases from prostate cancer or renal cell carcinoma, zoledronic acid significantly delayed the onset and reduced the incidence of skeletal complications compared with placebo. Zoledronic acid is also the only bisphosphonate that has demonstrated a trend toward improved survival and delayed progression of bone lesions in patients with urologic malignancies. Furthermore, zoledronic acid reduced the incidence of pathologic fracture, a skeletal-related event known to be associated with reduced survival. Bisphosphonates have also demonstrated significant palliative benefits, and preclinical evidence indicates that bisphosphonates may have direct anti-tumour effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Zoledronic acid is the only bisphosphonate that has demonstrated statistically significant, long-term clinical benefits through the prevention and delay of skeletal-related events in patients with metastatic prostate cancer or renal cell carcinoma.
Saad
Fred
F
Centre Hospitalier de I'Université de Montréal, Hôpital Notre-Dame, 1560 Rue Sherbrooke East, Montréal, Quebec, Canada PQ H2L 4M1. fred.saad@umontreal.ca
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid