This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) eLetters: Submit a response to this article Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services E-mail this article link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints/Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Berenson, J. Articles by Hirschberg, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Berenson, J. Articles by Hirschberg, R.

Safety and Convenience of a 15-Minute Infusion of Zoledronic Acid

^a Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA; ^b Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA

Correspondence: James Berenson, M.D., Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research, 1875 Century Park East, Suite 300, Los Angeles, California 90067, USA. Telephone: 310-407-0439; Fax: 310-556-0148; e-mail: jberenson{at}myelomasource.org

Skeletal morbidity, including hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM), places a severe burden on patients with advanced cancers. Bisphosphonates effectively correct HCM and reduce skeletal morbidity in patients with bone metastases. However, with the widespread use of bisphosphonates, the safety and convenience of therapy are emerging concerns. The delivery of effective doses of early bisphosphonates required a lengthy 24-hour i.v. infusion protocol because of renal tolerability issues. The introduction of more potent bisphosphonates with superior tolerability profiles has allowed therapy to be safely delivered via shorter i.v. infusions. Intravenous therapy with etidronate, clodronate, pamidronate, ibandronate, and zoledronic acid has been used to treat HCM and skeletal complications in cancer patients. Of these therapies, zoledronic acid (which can be safely administered via a 15-minute i.v. infusion) is the most convenient and effective and has demonstrated an excellent safety profile with long-term use. Zoledronic acid has also received the broadest regulatory approval of any bisphosphonate and can be used to treat HCM or bone lesions secondary to multiple myeloma and a wide variety of solid tumors, including breast, prostate, and lung cancers. In addition to the patient preference for shorter infusion times, the 15-minute i.v. infusion protocol of zoledronic acid can provide benefits for infusion centers by potentially increasing patient throughput.

Key Words. Alendronate • Bone diseases • Bone resorption • Diphosphonates • Hypercalcemia • Neoplasm metastasis • Palliative care

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Q. Lacy, A. Dispenzieri, M. A. Gertz, P. R. Greipp, K. L. Gollbach, S. R. Hayman, S. Kumar, J. A. Lust, S. V. Rajkumar, S. J. Russell, et al. Mayo Clinic Consensus Statement for the Use of Bisphosphonates in Multiple Myeloma Mayo Clin. Proc., August 1, 2006; 81(8): 1047 - 1053. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Chabner Late Toxicities of Drugs: Bisphosphonates Oncologist, May 1, 2005; 10(5): 301 - 303. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Balla The Issue of Renal Safety of Zoledronic Acid from a Nephrologist's Point of View Oncologist, May 1, 2005; 10(5): 306 - 308. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Lugassy "Safety and Convenience of a 15-Minute Infusion of Zoledronic Acid": Not So Safe Oncologist, May 1, 2005; 10(5): 309 - 310. [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. J. Diel and R. Bergner Re: Berenson J, Hirschberg R. Safety and Convenience of a 15-Minute Infusion of Zoledronic Acid Oncologist, January 1, 2005; 10(1): 82 - 83. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Berenson and R. Hirschberg In Response to Diel I, Bergner R. Letter to the Editor of The Oncologist Re: Safety and Convenience of a 15-Minute Infusion of Zoledronic Acid Oncologist, January 1, 2005; 10(1): 84 - 87. [Full Text] [PDF]