title: Zoledronic acid induces a significant decrease of circulating endothelial cells and circulating endothelial precursor cells in the early prostate cancer neoadjuvant setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Published data demonstrated that zoledronic acid (ZOL) exhibits antiangiogenetic effects. A promising tool for monitoring antiangiogenic therapies is the measurement of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and circulating endothelial precursor cells (CEPs) in the peripheral blood of patients. Our aim was to investigate the effects of ZOL on levels of CECs and CEPs in localized prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten consecutive patients with a histologic diagnosis of low-risk prostate adenocarcinoma were enrolled and received an intravenous infusion of ZOL at baseline (T0), 28 days (T28) and 56 days (T56). Blood samples were collected at the following times: T0 (before the first infusion of ZOL), T3 (72 h after the first dose), T28, T56 (both just before the ZOL infusion) and T84 (28 days after the last infusion of ZOL) and CEC/CEP levels were directly quantified by flow cytometry at all these time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our analyses highlighted a significant reduction of mean percentage of CECs and CEPs after initiation of ZOL treatment [p = 0.014 (at day 3) and p = 0.012 (at day 84), respectively].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results demonstrate that ZOL could exert an antiangiogenic effect in early prostate cancer through CEP and CEC modulation.
authors: Medical Oncology, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Santini
authors: Alice
authors: A
authors: Zoccoli
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Gregorj
authors: Melania
authors: M
authors: Di Cerbo
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Iuliani
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Pantano
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Zamarchi
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Sergi
authors: Gerardo
authors: G
authors: Flammia
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Buscarini
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Rizzo
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Cicero
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Russo
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Vincenzi
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Avvisati
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Tonini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid