Clinical Trial on the Efficacy of Zoledronic Acid in Preventing Bone Loss Induced by Aromatase Inhibitor in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of zoledronic acid in preventing bone loss induced by aromatase inhibitor in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.Methods:A total of 63 postmenopausal breast cancer patients were recruited in the clinical trial.The zoledronic acid plus aromatase inhinitor group included 31 postmenopausal breast cancer patients. There were 32 patients in the aromatase inhibitor group (the control group).The lumbar spine bone mineral density (LS BMD) and the incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis were compared between the two groups at different time points.Results:After 6 months,the zoledronic acid group had a higher LS BMD than the control group,but the difference between them was not significant (P=0.099).There was no significant difference in the incidence of osteopenia and osteoprosis between the two groups (osteopenia:P=0.124;osteoporosis:P=0.573).At 12 months after treatment,the zoledronic acid plus aromatase inhinitor group had higher LS BMD than the control group (P=0.008);and the incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in the zoledronic acid plus aromatase inhinitor group was lower than that in the control group (osteopenia: P=0.048;osteoporosis:P=0.042).At 24 months after treatment,the LS BMD in the zoledronic acid group was higher than that in the control group (P=0.000);and the incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in the zoledronic acid plus aromatase inhinitor group was lower than that in the control group (osteopenia:P=0.027;osteoporosis:P=0.011).The incidence of adverse effects between the two groups was similar except for bone pain.Patients in the zoledronic acid plus aromatase inhinitor group had a higher rate of bone pain (P=0.037).Conclusion:Zoledronic acid is effective for preventing bone loss induced by aromatase inhibitor in postmenopausal breast cancer patients,with slight adverse reactions.