Table 1

Effects of bisphosphonate treatment on skeletal morbidity: results of randomised trials

Agent and route

n

Results (no bisphosphonate versus bisphosphonate treated)

Reference

Pamidronate, 600 mg orally daily

161

Reduced SMR, 94 vs 52 events/100 women years (P < 0.01) 600 mg poorly tolerated; no benefit with reduced dose (300 mg)

van Holten-Verzantvoort et al. [24]

Clodronate, 1600 mg orally daily

173

Reduced SMR, 305 vs 219 events/100 woman years (P < 0.001)

Paterson et al. [25]

Pamidronate, 45 mg intravenously

295

Increased time to bone progression, 168 vs 249 days (P = 0.02)

Conte et al. [14]

3 weekly

Pamidronate, 90 mg intravenously

382

Reduced proportion experiencing SRE, 65 vs 46% (P < 0.001)

Hortobagyi et al. [2]

3–4 weekly

Delay in first SRE, 7.0 vs 13.1 months (P = 0.0005)

Pamidronate, 60 mg intravenously monthly

401

Increased median time to skeletal progression, 9 vs 14 months (P < 0.01)

Hultborn et al. [15]

Pamidronate, 90 mg intravenously

374

Reduced proportion experiencing SRE, 67 vs 56% (P = 0.027)

Theriault et al. [1]

3–4 weekly

Delay in first SRE, 6.9 vs 10.4 months (P = 0.049)

Ibandronate, 2/6 mg intravenously

467

Reduced SMR with 6 mg dose; 2 mg ineffective

Body et al. [9]

3–4 weekly

SMR, 2.18 vs 1.61 events/100 women years (P = 0.03)

SRE = skeletal related events; SMR = skeletal morbidity rate.

Brown and Coleman Breast Cancer Res 2002 4:24   doi:10.1186/bcr413