The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7222 p634
2 November 2002

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Bisphosphonate can benefit cancer

A third generation bisphosphonate has been shown to reduce skeletal complications among breast cancer patients.

American researchers randomised 435 women with breast cancer and bone meta-stases to receive 20 or 50mg ibandronate (Bondronat) or placebo daily for 96 weeks. Those taking ibandronate suffered fewer cancer-related bone complications than those taking placebo (P=0.017). In addition, the ibandronate group suffered less pain and had an improved quality of life compared with the placebo group.

Ibandronate is currently licensed as a treatment for tumour-induced hypercalcaemia. However, the manufacturer Roche has also applied for it to be licensed for metastatic bone disease in breast cancer patients. These latest data, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in Nice last month, have been submitted to support the application.