Editor's Choice
Main Category: Lymphoma / Leukemia / Myeloma
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;Â Â Bones / Orthopedics
Article Date: 16 May 2012 - 10:00 PDT
email to a friend  
printer friendly  
opinions  <!-- 
rate article Patient / Public:
Healthcare Prof: Although bisphosphonate drugs can reduce pain and bone fractures in individuals with multiple myeloma, no one drug is superior, according to a systematic review of the current evidence of these drugs. The review is published in The Cochrane Library.
Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that grows in and on bones. The disease can cause fractures in the spine and long bones. Bisphosphonate drugs are used to prevent or reduce the occurrence of bone fractures and pain in these patients and work by inhibiting the activities of osteoclasts (bone cells).
The team examined data on 6,692 myeloma patients from 20 trials who took bisphosphonate drugs in addition to their myeloma treatments. The bisphosphonate drugs included:
- clodronate
- etidronate
- zoledronate
- ibandronate
- pamidronate
4 of the 20 trials suggested that zoledronate was more effective than etidronate at reducing fractures. However, when the team made indirect comparisons by interrogating the data from the 20 trials (direct comparisons between different drugs; drug vs. placebo; and drug vs. no treatment), they found no drug to be superior.
Lead researcher of the study, Ambuj Kumar of the Center for Evidence Based Medicine and Health Outcomes Research at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, explained:
"Whether zoledronate is superior to any other bisphosphonate drug remains an open question. In light of the inconsistencies we see in the data, it is difficult to recommend any drug as a preferential treatment for clinical practice."
Although side effects of these drugs seem to be rare, one potential complication is osteonecrosis of the jaw. However, the researchers found that it is not more prevalent in patients taking bisphosphonate drugs than patients receiving placebo or no treatment.
Kumar concluded:
"We didn't identify any significant adverse effects, but this work does highlight the need for larger head-to-head trials, which are needed to better compare the safety and effectiveness of the different drugs available."
Written By Grace Rattue
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
- Additional
- References
- Citations
MLA
APA
Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.
Add Your Opinion On This Article
'Specific Clinical Guidance Urgently Needed On Bone Cancer Drugs'Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.
All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)
Contact Our News Editors
For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.
Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:
Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.
Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.
MNT (logo) is the registered EU trade mark of MediLexicon Int. Limited.
back to top | home | privacy policy
MediLexicon International LtdBexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.
MNT (logo) is the registered EU trade mark of MediLexicon Int. Limited.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar