Clodronate in treatment of tumor osteopathy. Evaluation in tumor patients with bone metastases or hypercalcemia

METHOD: In an observational study involving 398 tumor patients with bone metastases or related hypercalcemia, the effect of treatment with clodronate over a period of 12 months was investigated. Bone pain, analgesic requirements, quality of life and laboratory parameters were recorded at monthly intervals. RESULTS: Some 71.4% of all patients indicated an improvement in quality of life. Bone pain, experienced by 91.4% of the patients at the start of treatment, regressed (from 2.0 +/- 1.2 to 1.3 +/- 1.0). After the 12-month treatment period, 36% of the patients did without analgesics completely (prior to treatment the corresponding figure was 24%). The most common side effects attributed to clodronate were gastrointestinal disorders (10%). CONCLUSION: Clodronate would appear to be a useful supportive drug in the management of tumor-related bone disease.