Role of Pamidronate Disodium in the Treatment of Metastatic Bone Disease

1998 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 442-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Ripamonti ◽  
Fabio Fulfaro ◽  
Chiara Ticozzi ◽  
Alessandra Casuccio ◽  
Franco De Conno

Aims and Background Bone metastases are a common feature of advanced neoplastic disease and are considered to be among the most frequent causes of pain and complications in oncologic patients. The main objective of the treatment of such patients is to control their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Pamidronate disodium is a second-generation bisphosphonate capable of inhibiting bone resorption (particularly osteoclast activity) without affecting bone reminerali-zation. After a brief introduction concerning the pathophysiology of bone metastases and neoplastic bone pain, we herein present data on the clinical pharmacology and toxicity of bisphosphonates in general, and pamidronate in particular. We conclude by reviewing the literature on the use of pamidronate in phase II and III trials involving patients with metastatic bone disease. Methods The paper is based on a review of articles published between 1984 and 1997 selected from the Cancerline and Medline databases. Results In the considered phase II and III studies involving patients with bone metastases (breast cancer and multiple myeloma in particular), pamidronate proved to be efficacious in reducing the incidence of pain and skeletal complications, decreasing the excretion of metabolic markers of bone resorption and improving the quality of life. Intravenous infusions of 60-90 mg over a period of 2 hr every 3-4 weeks did not cause any significant toxic effects and was easily managed. Conclusions Pamidronate is a bisphosphonate that is efficacious in the treatment of symptomatic bone metastases and can be considered an important therapeutic option in association with systemic treatments, radiotherapy and normal supportive care, especially in patients with breast cancer and multiple myeloma. Further randomized studies are necessary to confirm the positive preliminary results in other neoplasms, analyze the cost/benefit ratio of the treatment, and verify the possibility that, in addition to being used for palliative purposes, pamidronate may also prevent or delay the appearance of bone metastases.

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2381-2381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger Schirrmeister ◽  
Albrecht Guhlmann ◽  
Jörg Kotzerke ◽  
Claudia Santjohanser ◽  
Thorsten Kühn ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown that bone metastases are revealed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or bone marrow scintigraphy several months before they are visible by conventional bone scintigraphy (BS). We present a new approach for detecting bone metastases in patients with breast cancer. We compared findings obtained with fluoride ion (F-18) and positron emission tomography (PET) with those obtained with conventional BS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four breast cancer patients were prospectively examined using F-18–PET and conventional BS. F-18–PET and BS were performed within 3 weeks of each other. Metastatic bone disease was previously known to be present in six patients and was suspected (bone pain or increasing levels of tumor markers, Ca2+, alkaline phosphatase) in 28 patients. Both imaging modalities were compared by patient-by-patient analysis and lesion-by-lesion analysis, using a five-point scale for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. A panel of reference methodswas used, including MRI (28 patients), planar x-ray (17 patients), and spiral computed tomography (four patients). RESULTS: With F-18–PET, 64 bone metastases were detected in 17 patients. Only 29 metastases were detected in 11 patients with BS. As a result of F-18–PET imaging, clinical management was changed in four patients (11.7%). For F-18–PET, the area under the ROC curve was 0.99 on a lesion basis (for BS, it was 0.74; P < .05) and 1.00 on a patient basis (for BS, it was 0.82; P < .05). CONCLUSION: F-18–PET demonstrates a very early bone reaction when small bone marrow metastases are present, allowing accurate detection of breast cancer bone metastases. This accurate detection has a significant effect on clinical management, compared with the effect on management brought about by detection with conventional BS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Ugo Albertini ◽  
Andrea Conti ◽  
Nicola Ratto ◽  
Pietro Pellegrino ◽  
Michele Boffano ◽  
...  

Introduction. Metastatic bone disease represents a systemic pathology that heavily affects the quality of life of oncologic patients causing pain and functional disability. Methodology. We present the case of a patient with a history of renal cell cancer presenting pathologic fractures of both humeri and proximal right radius. Results. After a careful multidisciplinary approach, an adjuvant anticancer therapy and a photodynamic bone stabilization procedure were performed with a minimally invasive technique aiming to minimize pain and local disease progression, while restoring functional autonomy and improving the patient’s quality of life. Electrochemotherapy was delivered on the lytic bone lesions with extraskeletal involvement of the proximal left humerus and the proximal right radius, and then polymeric bone stabilization was performed on both humeri. At two months of follow-up, the patient presented satisfactory functional scores (MSTS score: 12/30 bilaterally; DASH scores: 46.7/100 for the right side and 48.3/100 for the left one), and pain was well controlled with opioid analgesics. Radiographs showed good results in terms of ossification of lytic bone lesions and durability of polymeric stabilization. At four months of follow-up, the patient reported a stable clinical scenario. Six months after surgery, due to extremely poor prognosis after the progression of primary disease, the patient was referred to palliative care and died shortly thereafter. Conclusion. Over the last decade, the management of metastatic bone disease has changed. Low-toxicity and minimally invasive procedures such as electrochemotherapy and polymeric bone stabilization might be performed concomitantly in selected patients, as an alternative to radiation therapy and to more demanding surgical procedures such as plating and adjuvant cementing.


Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 133 (14) ◽  
pp. 1534-1539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelos Terpos ◽  
Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos ◽  
Meletios A. Dimopoulos

Abstract Bone disease is a cardinal complication of multiple myeloma that affects quality of life and survival. Osteocytes have emerged as key players in the development of myeloma-related bone disease. Along with other factors, they participate in increased osteoclast activity, decreased osteoblast function, and immunosuppressed marrow microenvironment, which deregulate bone turnover and result in bone loss and skeletal-related events. Denosumab is a novel alternative to bisphosphonates against myeloma bone disease. Special considerations in this constantly evolving field are thoroughly discussed.


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