UNBELIEVABLE

Int J Cancer. 2009 Apr 6. [Epub ahead of print]

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The impact of zoledronic acid therapy in survival of lung cancer patients with bone metastasis.

Zarogoulidis K, Boutsikou E, Zarogoulidis P, Eleftheriadou E, Kontakiotis T, Lithoxopoulou H, Tzanakakis G, Kanakis I, Karamanos NK.

Lung Tumor Research Section, Pulmonary Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 'G. Papanikolaou' Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Bone metastases occur in 20-40% of patients with lung cancer. Recent studies demonstrate a direct antiproliferative effect of 3rd generation bisphosphonates (BPs) on lung tumors, which may influence the survival. Therefore, we examined the clinical impact of zoledronic acid (ZOL; Zometa(R)), a 3rd generation BP, with a focus on the survival, time to progression and pain effect in lung cancer patients with bone metastases. Lung cancer patients (n = 144, Stage IV) with evidence of metastasis bone scan were included. Eighty-seven of 144 experienced bone pain and received ZOL, 4 mg i.v. every 21 days (Group A), whereas the other 57 patients received no ZOL (Group B). All patients were treated with a combination chemotherapy consisted of docetaxel 100 mg/m(2) and carboplatin AUC = 6. It was found that Group A had a statistically significant longer survival (p <> 0.05). Urine N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) levels decreased in patients with NTx