Clinical benefit of zoledronic acid in patients with lung cancer and other solid tumors: analysis based on history of skeletal complications

The results of a retrospective exploratory analysis of a phase III trial of zoledronic acid in patients with bone metastases secondary to lung cancer or other solid tumors are reported herein to assess the risk of skeletal-related events (SREs) and the efficacy of 4 mg zoledronic acid compared with placebo. The study is based on patient SRE history before study entry. Patients were stratified based on SRE history (eg, pathologic fracture, spinal cord compression, radiation therapy or surgery to bone, or hypercalcemia) before study entry, and SRE incidence over 21 months was analyzed. Of 507 patients randomized to 4 mg zoledronic acid or placebo, 131 completed the 9-month core phase and 69 entered the 12-month extension phase. Before study entry, 347 of 503 patients who were evaluable for efficacy (69%) experienced >/= 1 SRE; these patients had a higher risk of developing an SRE on study than patients with no prior SRE (odds ratio, 1.41). Among patients with an SRE before study entry, zoledronic acid reduced the risk of SREs by 31% (P = 0.009), reduced the mean skeletal morbidity rate (1.96 vs. 2.81 SREs per year for placebo; P = 0.030), and prolonged the median time to first SRE by nearly 4 months (215 days vs. 106 days for placebo; P = 0.011). Among patients with no SRE before study entry (n = 156), zoledronic acid reduced the risk of SREs by 23% (P = 0.308), reduced the mean skeletal morbidity rate (1.34 vs. 2.53 SREs per year for placebo; P = 0.332), and prolonged the median time to first SRE by 2.5 months (P = 0.534). This exploratory analysis demonstrates that patients with a history of SREs are at high risk for subsequent SREs, but zoledronic acid reduces skeletal morbidity regardless of SRE history.