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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Influence of zoledronic acid on disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow and survival: results of a prospective clinical trial

Authors: Malgorzata Banys, Erich-Franz Solomayer, Gerhard Gebauer, Wolfgang Janni, Natalia Krawczyk, Hans-Joachim Lueck, Sven Becker, Jens Huober, Bernhard Kraemer, Birgit Wackwitz, Peter Hirnle, Diethelm Wallwiener, Tanja Fehm

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

The presence of disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in bone marrow (BM) of breast cancer patients is associated with reduced clinical outcome. Bisphosphonate treatment was shown to eradicate DTC from BM in several studies. This controlled randomized open-label multi-center study aimed to investigate the influence of zoledronic acid (ZOL) on DTC and survival of breast cancer patients (Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT00172068).

Methods

Patients with primary breast cancer and DTC-positive bone marrow were randomized to treatment with ZOL plus adjuvant systemic therapy (n = 40) or adjuvant systemic therapy alone (n = 46) between 03/2002 and 12/2004. DTC were identified by immunocytochemistry using the pancytokeratin antibody A45B/B3 and by cytomorphology. The change in DTC numbers at 12 months and 24 months versus baseline, as well as patient outcomes were evaluated.

Results

86 patients could be included into survival analysis (median follow-up: 88 months, range: 8–108 mths). Patients in the control group were more likely to die during follow-up than those in the ZOL-group (11% vs. 2%, p = 0.106). 15% of patients in the control group presented with relapse whereas only 8% of ZOL group patients developed metastatic or recurrent disease during follow-up (p = 0.205). At 24 months, 16% of patients from the control group were still DTC positive, whereas all patients treated with ZOL became DTC negative (p = 0.032). Patients presenting with persistent DTC 12 months after diagnosis had significantly shorter overall survival (p = 0.011).

Conclusions

Bisphosphonate therapy contributes to eradication of disseminated tumor cells. The positive influence of bisphosphonates on survival in the adjuvant setting may be due to their effects on DTC.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00172068 [Zoledronic Acid in the Treatment of Breast Cancer With Minimal Residual Disease in the Bone Marrow (MRD-1)].
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Influence of zoledronic acid on disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow and survival: results of a prospective clinical trial
Authors
Malgorzata Banys
Erich-Franz Solomayer
Gerhard Gebauer
Wolfgang Janni
Natalia Krawczyk
Hans-Joachim Lueck
Sven Becker
Jens Huober
Bernhard Kraemer
Birgit Wackwitz
Peter Hirnle
Diethelm Wallwiener
Tanja Fehm
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-13-480

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