How Zometa prevents/treats mets

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Gitane
Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
edited June 2014 in Recommend Your Resources

http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-022i.shtml

There is more to this article than I have shown here, but here is a portion of it.

The mechanisms by which tumor cells degrade bone involve tumor-cell adhesion to bone, as well as the release of compounds from tumor cells that stimulate osteoclast-induced bone degradation. Bisphosphonates inhibit cancer-cell adhesion and inhibit osteoclast activity. By preventing tumor-cell adhesion, bisphosphonates are useful agents for the prophylactic treatment of patients with cancer that is known to preferentially metastasize to bone.There is evidence that growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor and transforming growth factor, are released when the bone matrix is degraded. These growth factors could stimulate tumor-cell proliferation throughout the body and mayactivate cancer cells to the degraded bone ripe for clonal development, which may be a reason that early use of bisphosphonates significantly improved survival and may ward off metastasis.

Based upon the mounting research, it is strongly recommended that the use of bisphosphonates be considered at onset of breast cancer treatment to potentially stop bone metastases from developing. Patients are urged to discuss the use of bisphosphonates with their physicians. 

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited June 2009

    Okay, now what's the bad news? What are the side effects of Zometa?

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  • Deb-from-Ohio
    Deb-from-Ohio Member Posts: 1,140
    edited June 2009

    This is the clinical trial my onc wanted me to go on but I turned it down, it would have involved going to his office every month for an IV...if he had offered me pills, would have taken those.

    Deb

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  • ddlatt
    ddlatt Member Posts: 448
    edited June 2009

    side effects of zometa:

    http://cancer.emedtv.com/zometa/zometa-side-effects.html 

    my med onc recommended zometa, but i have decided against it because of the risk of osteonecrosis. i know it's a low risk, but not worth it for me. 

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited June 2009

    i'm starting zometa after i finish rads!  to those that are interested, be sure to have your teeth/mouth in GREAT shape before starting.  its not recommended to have major dental work while on zometa!

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited June 2009

    I think all bisphosphonates may help, not just Zometa.   I'm not advocating anything, though, just sharing something I read.

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  • Momtokate-chase
    Momtokate-chase Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2009

    I have been on Zometa since I was first diagnosed (stage IV).  It has been just over a year and I now have no evidence of disease.  I still go for treatment every 3 weeks (Herceptin and Zometa) and I get two shots once a month (lurpon and faslodex).  I am triple positive.  anyway, the zometa has been fine for me so far.  I experience a lot of side effects from all the meds but I have been happy with the treatment and thrilled that things are going so well.

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  • Alyad
    Alyad Member Posts: 817
    edited July 2009

    there is a trial that compares Zometa with two other orally take bisphosphonate drugs- I drew the ibandronate (Boniva) arm of the trial- I have been taking it daily for about two months and don't have any side effects from it. I think the risk of osteonecrosis is pretty small. I had to have a form filled out by my dentist to get in the trial.

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  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited July 2009

    I took fosamax for a couple of years and then my jaw started to feel "funny" to me so I quit it...we shall see...

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