Zometa Increases BMD in Breast Ca Patients on Femara

Publication
Article
Oncology NEWS InternationalOncology NEWS International Vol 15 No 5
Volume 15
Issue 5

Postmenopausal breast cancer patients given the intravenous bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (Zometa) twice a year at the start of adjuvant therapy with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole (Femara) had significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) at 12 months, compared with a delayed-therapy group. Nigel Bundred, MD, of University Hospital, South Manchester, UK, presented the findings at the 5th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBBC) (abstract 12).

NICE, France—Postmenopausal breast cancer patients given the intravenous bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (Zometa) twice a year at the start of adjuvant therapy with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole (Femara) had significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) at 12 months, compared with a delayed-therapy group. Nigel Bundred, MD, of University Hospital, South Manchester, UK, presented the findings at the 5th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBBC) (abstract 12).

The ZO-FAST trial (Zometa-Femara Adjuvant Synergy Trial) randomized 1,065 postmenopausal women with stage I-IIIa, ER- and/or PR-positive breast cancer to receive zoledronic acid, 4 mg as a 15-minute infusion every 6 months beginning on day 1 or delayed until researchers detected a post-baseline BMD T-score greater than 2 SD below normal or after a bone complication occurred.

At 12-month follow-up, patients given zoledronic acid up front had a mean increase in lumbar spine BMD of 2.2% vs a decrease of 3.4% in the delayed group, representing a 5% relative difference (P < .0001). Total hip BMD was also significantly higher in the upfront group (3.5% relative difference, P < .0001). In addition, bone markers were significantly decreased in the upfront patients, compared with the delayed group.

The agent was generally well tolerated; arthralgia was the most common adverse event, occurring in 32.3% of the upfront group and 29.3% of the delayed group.

"We are close to defining the best strategy for addressing the issue of bone loss in women with early breast cancer who receive adjuvant treatment," Dr. Bundred said. "The positive results seen in this trial, which confirm what was observed in other bone loss trials, demonstrate the role of zoledronic acid in prevention and treatment of cancer-treatment-associated bone loss."

AZURE Trial

Novartis, maker of Zometa and Femara, has announced completion of enrollment in AZURE (Does Adjuvant Zoledronic Acid Reduce Recurrence in Patients With High-Risk Localized Breast Cancer?). Researchers believe that inhibition of bone resorption could have an effect on the development and progression of metastatic bone disease. The randomized, open-label, multicenter, parallel-group trial includes 3,360 women with high-risk early breast cancer assigned to receive 4 mg of zoledronic acid plus chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy or chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy alone. The primary endpoint is disease-free survival. Secondary endpoints include time to bone metastases, time to distant metastases, overall survival, and reduction of skeletal-related events.

Recent Videos
Heather Zinkin, MD, states that reflexology improved pain from chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Study findings reveal that patients with breast cancer reported overall improvement in their experience when receiving reflexology plus radiotherapy.
Patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer were offered 15-minute nurse-led reflexology sessions to increase energy and reduce stress and pain.
Whole or accelerated partial breast ultra-hypofractionated radiation in older patients with early breast cancer may reduce recurrence with low toxicity.
Ultra-hypofractionated radiation in those 65 years or older with early breast cancer yielded no ipsilateral recurrence after a 10-month follow-up.
The unclear role of hypofractionated radiation in older patients with early breast cancer in prior trials incentivized research for this group.
Patients with HR-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer and high-risk features may derive benefit from ovarian function suppression plus endocrine therapy.
Paolo Tarantino, MD discusses updated breast cancer trial findings presented at ESMO 2024 supporting the use of agents such as T-DXd and ribociclib.
Paolo Tarantino, MD, discusses the potential utility of agents such as datopotamab deruxtecan and enfortumab vedotin in patients with breast cancer.
Paolo Tarantino, MD, highlights strategies related to screening and multidisciplinary collaboration for managing ILD in patients who receive T-DXd.
Related Content