title: Analgesic efficacy of zoledronic acid and its effect on functional status of prostate cancer patients with metastasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A multi-centered observational study evaluated the efficacy of zoledronic acid for improving pain and mobility, and preventing skeletal-related events (SRE) (fracture, spinal compression, pain-relieving radiotherapy), in patients with prostate cancer and bone metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Males (n = 218) with prostate cancer and bone metastasis undergoing oncologic therapy received zoledronic acid (4 mg iv/month) for 6 months. Parameters evaluated were: 1) pain and movement after 2 consecutive doses; 2) quality of life; 3) SRE incidence and time-to-appearance. Medication tolerance and treatment satisfaction were assessed using a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 170 that matched all the inclusion criteria (78%) out of 218 were evaluable for efficacy. There was a measurable statistically significant reduction in pain at rest and on movement as well as an improvement in the quality of life compared with baseline. Best results were obtained with early treatment. Overall incidence of bone events was 11.2%. Of the 212 patients (97.2%) evaluable for safety, 16% suffered adverse events and 66% expressed satisfaction with the treatment
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zoledronic acid is effective for reducing pain, improving mobility, and increasing the quality of life in patients with prostate cancer with bone metastasis. Its easy administration and good tolerability make zoledronic acid one of the principal therapeutic tools in the management of patients with pain associated with bone metastasis from prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Pain and Palliative Care Unit, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain;
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gálvez
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ribera
authors.forename: José Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: González-Escalada
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.forename: María Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cánovas
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Los Angeles Maqueda
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castilforte
authors.forename: José Javier
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marco-Martínez
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vicente-Fatela
authors.forename: Consuelo Nieto
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Md
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Orduña
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Padrol
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reig
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carballido
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cózar