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Cited by 356Bone health and treatmentsBone health and osteoporosis researchManagement of metastatic bone disease

Effect of Longer-Interval vs Standard Dosing of Zoledronic Acid on Skeletal Events in Patients With Bone Metastases: A Randomized Clinical Trial

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Himelstein, Andrew L., Foster, Jared C., Khatcheressian, James L., Roberts, John D., Seisler, Drew K., Novotny, Paul J., Qin, Rui, Go, Ronald S. +7 more·2017·JAMA
DOI 10.1001/jama.2016.19425PMC PMC5321662
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Abstract

Importance: Zoledronic acid, a third-generation aminobisphosphonate, reduces the incidence of skeletal-related events and pain in patients with bone metastases. The optimal dosing interval for zoledronic acid is uncertain. Objective: To determine whether zoledronic acid administered every 12 weeks is noninferior to zoledronic acid administered every 4 weeks. Design, Setting, Participants: Randomized, open-label clinical trial conducted at 269 academic and community sites in the United States. Patients (n = 1822) with metastatic breast cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, or multiple myeloma who had at least 1 site of bone involvement were enrolled between May 2009 and April 2012; follow-up concluded in April 2014. Interventions: Patients were randomized to receive zoledronic acid administered intravenously every 4 weeks (n = 911) vs every 12 weeks (n = 911) for 2 years. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was the proportion of patients having at least 1 skeletal-related event (defined as clinical fracture, spinal cord compression, radiation to bone, or surgery involving bone) within 2 years after randomization and a between-group absolute difference of 7% as the noninferiority margin. Secondary end points included the proportion of patients with at least 1 skeletal-related event by disease type, pain as assessed by the Brief Pain Inventory (range, 0-10; higher scores indicate worse pain), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (range, 0-4; higher scores indicate worse disability), incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw, kidney dysfunction, skeletal morbidity rate (mean number of skeletal-related events per year), and, in a subset of 553 patients, suppression of bone turnover (assessed by C-terminal telopeptide levels). Results: Among 1822 patients who were randomized (median age, 65 years; 980 [53.8%] women; 855 with breast cancer, 689 with prostate cancer, and 278 with multiple myeloma), 795 completed the study at 2 years. A total of 260 patients (29.5%) in the zoledronic acid every 4-week dosing group and 253 patients (28.6%) in the every 12-week dosing group experienced at least 1 skeletal-related event within 2 years of randomization (risk difference of -0.3% [1-sided 95% CI, -4% to ∞]; P < .001 for noninferiority). The proportions of skeletal-related events did not differ significantly between the every 4-week dosing group vs the every 12-week dosing group for patients with breast cancer, prostate cancer, or multiple myeloma. Pain scores, performance status scores, incidence of jaw osteonecrosis, and kidney dysfunction did not differ significantly between the treatment groups. Skeletal morbidity rates were numerically identical in both groups, but bone turnover was greater (C-terminal telopeptide levels were higher) among patients who received zoledronic acid every 12 weeks. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with bone metastases due to breast cancer, prostate cancer, or multiple myeloma, the use of zoledronic acid every 12 weeks compared with the standard dosing interval of every 4 weeks did not result in an increased risk of skeletal events over 2 years. This longer interval may be an acceptable treatment option. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00869206.

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  • A lower intensity schedule of zoledronic acid or pamidronate every 3-4 months may provide similar protection with less side effects compared to monthly administration.

    “A lower intensity schedule every 3–4 months may provide similar protection with less side effects compared to monthly administration.188”

    From Multiple myeloma: 2024 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management (2024) · cites this paper as [188]

    The Discussion reports that zoledronic acid every 12 weeks was noninferior to every 4 weeks for preventing skeletal events. It also says toxic-effect rates were similar, not demonstrably lower; the Results report no significant difference in jaw osteonecrosis or kidney dysfunction. This trial studied zoledronic acid at a 12-week interval, not pamidronate or a four-month interval. Page numbers were not supplied. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  1. [17]National Research Council Panel on Handling Missing Data in Clinical Trials The Prevention and Treatment of Missing Data in Clinical Trials Washington, DC National Academies Press 2010 24983040

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Authors
Himelstein, A. L., Foster, J. C., Khatcheressian, J. L., Roberts, J. D., Seisler, D. K., Novotny, P. J., Qin, R., Go, R. S., Grubbs, S. S., O’Connor, T., Velasco, M. R., Weckstein, D., O’Mara, A., Loprinzi, C. L., & Shapiro, C. L.
Affiliations
  • Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, Newark, Delaware
  • Mayo Clinic (US)
  • Virginia Cancer Institute (US)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
  • Gundersen Health System (US)
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology (US)
  • Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (US)
  • Decatur Memorial Hospital (US)
  • Hematology\Oncology Clinic (US)
  • National Cancer Institute (US)
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
Corresponding author
Himelstein, Andrew L.
ORCID
Venue
JAMA
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
2017-01-03
Volume
317
Issue
1
Pages
48
ISSN
  • 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
  • 0098-7484
DOI
10.1001/jama.2016.19425
PMC
PMC5321662
OpenAlex
W2562306819
Cited by
356
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 49 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 1
FWCI
19.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • JAMA (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Pfizer
  • Gilead Sciences
  • National Institutes of Health (UL1TR001070, UL1TR001863)
  • National Cancer Institute (UG1CA189850, U10CA077440, U10CA035279, U10CA074811, UG1CA189823, UG1CA189805, U10CA037447, UG1CA189825, UG1CA189853, U10CA047559, UG1CA189830, U10CA180836, UG1CA189817, U10CA059518, U10CA180866, U10CA035272, U10CA180790, U10CA037404, U10CA052784, U10CA180857, U10CA047577, UG1CA232760, UG1CA189861, U10CA045418, U10CA180850, U10CA180867, U10CA041287, U10CA077658, UG1CA189870, UG1CA189819, P30CA016359)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Bone health and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Management of metastatic bone disease
Keywords
zoledronic acid, dosing interval, extended dosing, skeletal-related events, bone metastasis, bisphosphonates, non-inferiority, metastatic breast cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, bone pain, osteonecrosis of the jaw, renal dysfunction, bone turnover suppression, C-terminal telopeptide, fracture, spinal cord compression
MeSH terms
Zoledronic Acid, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Bone and Bones, Bone Neoplasms, Breast Neoplasms, Diphosphonates, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Humans, Imidazoles, Male, Middle Aged, Multiple Myeloma, Pain Measurement, Prostatic Neoplasms, Spinal Cord Compression, Spinal Fractures, Sample Size, Bone Density Conservation Agents

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