Intravenous ibandronate reduces the incidence of skeletal complications in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases

A. M. Westermann*

Academic Medical Center, F4-224 Dept. of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

*E-mail: a.m.westermann@amc.uva.nl

In their randomized study on the efficacy of ibandronate to reduce the incidence of skeletal complications in breast cancer patients with bone metastases, Body et al. [1] included a placebo group, while acknowledging in the same paper that biphosphonate treatment is indicated for this patient group ‘as soon as bone metastases are diagnosed’. In that case, why was it considered ethical to include a non-treatment group?

Secondly, the clinical relevance of any new biphosphonate lies in a possible improvement over older biphosphonate agents. For that reason alone a comparison with one of the other biphosphonates should have been included.

REFERENCES

1. Body J-J, Diel IJ, Lichinitser MR et al. Intravenous ibandronate reduces the incidence of skeletal complications in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases. Ann Oncol 2003; 14: 1399–1405.[Abstract/Free Full Text]