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Routine use of pamidronate in NSCLC patients with bone metastasis: results from a retrospective analysis
Gilbert Spizzo1, Andreas Seeber, Manfred Mitterer
1Department of Oncology and Haematology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Via Rossini 5, 39012 Merano, Italy.
Background:
No data on the tolerability and effects of pamidronate in non-small cell lung cancer patients with bone metastasis are available. We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the routine use of pamidronate in these patients.
Patients And Methods:
One hundred and four patients with NSCLC were treated at our Day Hospital between May 2003 and February 2009. Forty-one (39.5%) presented with bone metastasis during the course of the disease. Thirty (73.2%) of these patients received pamidronate at a dose of 90 mg every four weeks.
Results:
The occurrence of bone metastasis was associated with a poor overall survival, but patients treated with pamidronate had a significantly better median overall survival than untreated patients (15.4 months vs. 2.1 months; p<0.001). Pamidronate was well tolerated and only grade 1 or 2 toxicities were registered.
Conclusion:
The diagnosis of bone metastasis and the consequent routine administration of pamidronate have an impact on survival of NSCLC patients; this drug is a good candidate for routine use in haemato-oncological centres.