New Article/Info on Zometa

This study continues to follow up the premenopausal women who were given Zometa in addition to either tamoxifen or an AI vs women who only received hormone therapy. The women who had received the Zometa continue to have an overall improved disease free survival. They can't conclude yet overall survival because too few events have occurred. Furthermore, so far the women on the Tamoxifen had fewer deaths. Stay tuned.

This is certainly not the benefit anticipated from early studies done in Austria.  I was urged to participate in this study by my oncologist, and was the only recommendation I didn't happily accept.  I just couldn't get the math to work.  (~1% benefit which would explain why so hard to determine if results are signifcant.)

There may be long term benefits that we don't know about yet, but certainly doesn't look that promising based on early results.

Too bad, because the theory was that taking Zometa would prevent spread of BC to the bones in high risk women.  But right now, does not appear to hold the promise that was once hoped for.

Please see article from December 2010 - Bone Drug Zometa Flops in Breast Cancer Study.  Google it if you need to. The article begins by stating that "One of the most promising new approaches for fighting breast cancer took a stunning setback Thursday when a major study showed that a bone-building drug did not stop cancer from returning or extend life for most women fighting the disease". A spokesman for Novartis (the manufacturer) states that "Ten years of work and to have essentially a negative study is disappointing". 

Dr. Peter Ravdin of the University of Texas states in the same article "Zometa's role in cancer prevention remains uncertain".

"Studies" are fine but when did we start experimenting on humans without their consent.  I was on this drug at my expense for two years.  I resent doing R&D for companies that should be doing their own.  The article that I mentioned calls for Novartis to go through trials to substantiate their "claims".  As a stage IV patient, I have enough experimentation on my body with these damn cancer drugs that are rushed through FDA approval and then later taken back from the market - we saw one late last year and two more that I expect to occur this year.

Let me also point out a drug company trick called off-label prescribing.  Novartis got FDA approval for this drug for osteoporosis at two dosages per year.  Once they got FDA approval, they began to pedal this to Onc's for BC, Prostate, Lung Cancer, etc. Not only does this substantially broaden their market from a few old ladies with osteoporosis, they up the dosage to once a month.

Yes, I'm angry about the two years that my insurance company paid for this drug - but I'm one of the lucky ones that does not have a cap on my insurance.  Some cancer patients are dealing with 350,000, 500,000, or 1 million dollar caps on their insurance - when the money's gone it's gone.  If Novartis wants to experiment on humans, let them advertise in the paper for volunteers, pay those volunteers in addition to free drugs, go through clinical trials and get FDA approval for this drug as a cancer preventative.  Let them do their own G. D. R&D - these drug companies make gobs of money off cancer patients.

Pure..I appreciate your posting the study.  I had read it the day before you posted it.  I just want other posters to know that this is a continuation of the Austrian study of premenapausal women.  The more recent study used a different sample population and showed only favorable to older postmenapausal women.  This study does not contridict the other study.  Instead, it continues to validate the Austrian study's findings.

Oh dear, I am so confused. I am on a Zometa clinical trial (IV every 3 months). I was premenopause before chemo, but in menopause now. I wonder if I should drop out of the trial. My onc wants me to stay on, but he may have his own motives.

Very interesting, and somewhat reassuring.  I'm having my Zometa infusion tomorrow.

I have been on IV Zometa for 5 years now and discussed the Dec 2010 SABCS zometa study results with my oncologist in January.  She feels trial data should be viewed as additional information that may provide a better understanding of treatment benefit, but one study alone cannot show the whole picture.  Because of the variances between study populations and study methodologies, it can take many years and multiple study results before a full understanding is possible. 

She was not overly impressed with the 2010 results and said at the time there were other ongoing studies expected to have more positive findings later this year.  I am still scheduled for my July dose of Zometa.  After 3 years of every 3 - 6 month infusions, I have been on annual doses for the last 2 years.  We will be very interested to hear new study results that may affect whether or not I will continue my annual dose in 2012 or not.

I am currently 5.5 years post dx of Stage 3C with 23/23 positive nodes and remain NED to date.  I will get my annual CT scan in July a week prior to my Zometa infusion. I have no way of knowing with absolute certainty what has contributed to my NED status or how long it will last, but I do have confidence in my oncologist's opinion and will continue to follow her recommendations. At this point I believe Zometa provides a measurable benefit particularly to post-menopausal women but may very well prove to have a positive impact on an even wider audience as additional studies results become available.

You know, at least none of the studies have shown that Zometa is bad for us. The concensus seems to be "well, it may or may not help", but nowhere are they saying it makes things worse! So, in my opinion, it is a risk worth taking.