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Q In cancer patients with bone metastases, do bisphosphonates reduce skeletal morbidity?
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Oncology ★★★★★★☆
METHODS
Data sources:
Medline (1966–2001), CancerLit (1975–2001), EMBASE/Excerpta Medica (1980–2001), Science Citation Index Expanded (1981–2001), the Cochrane library, the database of abstracts of reviews of effectiveness (DARE), bibliographies of relevant papers, key journals, meeting abstracts, and experts and pharmaceutical companies.
Study selection and assessment:
randomised controlled trials that included patients with malignant disease and bone metastases; measured ⩾1 skeletal morbidity outcome; and compared an oral or intravenous bisphosphonate with another bisphosphonate, placebo, or standard care. Studies of patients with multiple myeloma were included but studies of patients with other haematological malignancies were excluded. Studies were assessed for allocation concealment and blinding.
Outcomes:
reduction in skeletal morbidity assessed by pathological fractures, radiotherapy to bone metastases, spinal cord compression, orthopaedic surgery, or hypercalcaemia; and time to first skeletal related event.
MAIN RESULTS
30 studies met the selection criteria. 18 studies were eligible for examination by meta analysis, 3 of which had data that could be used only for time to first skeletal related event. Of the remaining 15 studies, 3 compared 2 bisphosphonates and 12 compared a bisphosphonate (5 studies of clodronate, 4 of pamidronate, 2 of zoledronic acid, and 1 of etidronate) with placebo or control. Compared with placebo, bisphosphonates reduced the risk of vertebral fractures, non-vertebral fractures, combined fractures, radiotherapy, and hypercalcaemia but not orthopaedic surgery or spinal cord compression (table). 10 studies recorded time to first skeletal related event for patients treated with bisphosphonates compared with control, 8 of which showed increased time to first skeletal related event for patients who received intravenous bisphosphonates.
Bisphosphonates (Bis) v placebo or control in metastatic bone disease*
CONCLUSION
In cancer patients with bone metastases, bisphosphonates reduce fractures, radiotherapy, and hypercalcaemia and increase time to a first skeletal related event.
Commentary
Metastatic bone disease is a major cause of distress in patients with cancer. Each year in the UK, >25 000 people die with bone metastases. These patients are mainly concerned with control of pain and being able to live as normal a life as possible. “Skeletal events” was the primary endpoint used in the review by Ross et al. This is a non-specific but popular endpoint mainly because events can be enumerated easily. More important factors such as quality of life are harder to measure and less often considered. For example, in a different review of the role of bisphosphonates, Wong and Wiffen could identify only 2 eligible trials that used pain as an outcome measure.1 We also need quantitative information on the harms associated with bisphosphonate treatment. Ross et al used data provided by 1 manufacturer (Novartis) in advance of publication (ie, “Unpublished C,” a large study favouring the intervention and published in October 2002). However, another study (sponsored by Roche) that was not included in this meta-analysis was also published in May 2002; this study showed no benefit from bisphosphonates.2 This epitomises the difficulty of obtaining stable conclusions from meta-analyses when the number of studies is small, some are still being prepared for publication, and the publication times of primary studies and their derivative meta-analyses are protracted and overlapping.
In summary, the analysis and interpretation of trials and overviews concerning the use of bisphosphonates remain controversial, particularly given the paucity of data concerning the most important endpoints, pain control and quality of life. The review by Ross et al highlights the difficulties but leaves the real questions tantalisingly open. Still, no unequivocal case for the routine use of bisphosphonates in patients with metastatic cancer exists.
References
Footnotes
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For correspondence: Dr J R Ross, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK. joy.rosstalk21.com
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Source of funding: NHS Health and Technology Assessment Programme.