title: Safety and efficacy of zoledronic acid rapid infusion in lung cancer patients with bone metastases: a single institution experience.
abstract: Zoledronic acid (Zometa, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) is a new generation of bisphosphonates (BPs) with demonstrated clinical benefit in breast and prostate cancer patients with bone metastases. The safety and efficacy of intravenous zoledronic acid in lung cancer patients was assessed. In 86 patients with newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and bone metastases, 4 mg of zoledronic acid was administered with rapid 15-minute intravenous infusion every 3-4 weeks. A total of 414 infusions were administered over a 24-month period during which a statistically significant decrease in serum calcium levels (p = 0.03) was observed. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) also decreased but not significantly. With regard to clinical efficacy, 55 of our patients stabilized or reduced their need for analgesic treatment. No significant side-effects, including fever, hemodynamic instability and renal dysfunction, were seen. We conclude that the rapid infusion of zoledronic acid is safe and convenient for lung cancer patients even after the 3rd and 6th months follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Athens University School of Medicine, Oncology Unit, Third Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Building Z, 152 Mesogion Avenue, 115 27 Athens, Greece. ilkotteas@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kotteas
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alamara
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiagia
authors.forename: Kosmas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pantazopoulos
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boufas
authors.forename: Aspasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Provata
authors.forename: Adrianni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charpidou
authors.forename: Konstantinos N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Syrigos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid