Skip to main content

Antiresorptive Therapy, Mortality and Cancer Incidence

  • Chapter
The Duration and Safety of Osteoporosis Treatment

Abstract

A systematic review of mortality and cancer incidence with the use of antiresorptive therapy (ART) was performed. Overall ART may not reduce mortality, as only a minor part of deaths can be attributed to fractures. Mortality reductions from fracture prevention may only be achieved in populations at high risk of both fractures and death (i.e., typically the elderly and especially subjects with a prior hip fracture). Unless ARTs have effects on other causes of death, mortality reductions may thus not be seen. Studies to address the effects of dose and duration as well as adherence to ART and effects of ART on other causes of mortality are warranted. Most studies have included postmenopausal women. Besides the well-known breast cancer preventive effect of the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM), no general increase or decrease in the risk of cancer seems to exist for ART.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    *Important References

    **Very important References

References

*Important References

**Very important References

  1. Wells GA, Cranney A, Peterson J et al. Alendronate for the primary and secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;CD001155.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wells G, Cranney A, Peterson J et al. Risedronate for the primary and secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;CD004523.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Seeman E, Crans G, Diez-Perez A, et al. Anti-vertebral fracture efficacy of raloxifene: a meta-analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2006;17:313–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. O’Donnell S, Cranney A, Wells G et al. Strontium ranelate for preventing and treating postmenopausal osteoporosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;CD005326.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Richy F, Schacht E, Bruyere O, et al. Vitamin D analogs versus native vitamin d in preventing bone loss and osteoporosis-related fractures: a comparative meta-analysis. Calcif Tissue Int. 2005;76:176–86.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Avenell A, Gillespie W, Gillespie L et al. Vitamin D and vitamin D analogues for preventing fractures associated with involutional and post-menopausal osteoporosis (Review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;CD000227.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Tang BM, Eslick GD, Nowson C, et al. Use of calcium or calcium in combination with vitamin D supplementation to prevent fractures and bone loss in people aged 50 years and older: a meta-analysis. Lancet. 2007;370:657–66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bolland MJ, Barber PA, Doughty RN, et al. Vascular events in healthy older women receiving calcium supplementation: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2008;336:262–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bolland MJ, Avenell A, Baron JA, et al. Effect of calcium supplements on risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular events: meta-analysis. BMJ. 2010;341:c3691.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bolland MJ, Grey A, Avenell A, et al. Calcium supplements with or without vitamin D and risk of cardiovascular events: reanalysis of the Women’s Health Initiative limited access dataset and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2011;342:d2040.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Wells G, Tugwell P, Shea B, et al. Meta-analysis of the efficacy of hormone replacement therapy in treating and preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Endocr Rev. 2002;23:529–39.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Torgerson D, Bell-Syer S. Hormone replacement therapy and prevention of nonvertebral fractures. A meta-analysis of randomized trials. JAMA. 2001;285:2891–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Torgerson D, Bell-Syer S. Hormone replacement therapy and prevention of vertebral fractures: a meta-analysis of randomised trials. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2001;2:7–10.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. EMEA. EMEA public statement on recent publications regarding hormone replacement therapy. http://www.emea.eu.int/pdfs/human/press/pus/3306503en.pdf

  15. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results from the Women’s Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002;288:321–333.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Vestergaard P, Rejnmark L, Mosekilde L. Increased mortality in patients with a hip fracture-effect of pre-morbid conditions and post-fracture complications. Osteoporos Int. 2007;18:1583–93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Vestergaard P, Rejnmark L, Mosekilde L. Loss of life years after a hip fracture. Acta Orthop. 2009;80:525–30.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Vestergaard P, Mosekilde L. Fracture risk associated with smoking – a meta-analysis. J Intern Med. 2003;254:572–83.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Coleman R, Gnant M, Morgan G, et al. Effects of bone-targeted agents on cancer progression and mortality. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012;104:1059–67.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. **Bolland MJ, Grey AB, Gamble GD, et al. Effect of osteoporosis treatment on Mortality, ART: a meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95:1174–81. ** Pivotal study on mortality and effects of therapy for osteoporosis in mortality.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Cree MW, Juby AG, Carriere KC. Mortality and morbidity associated with osteoporosis drug treatment following hip fracture. Osteoporos Int. 2003;14:722–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Steinbuch M, D’Agostino RB, Mandel JS, et al. Assessment of mortality in patients enrolled in a risedronate clinical trial program: a retrospective cohort study. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2002;35:320–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Sharma A, Chatterjee S, Arbab-Zadeh A, et al. Risk of serious atrial fibrillation and stroke with use of bisphosphonates: evidence from a meta-analysis. Chest. 2013;144(4):1311–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. *Center JR, Bliuc D, Nguyen ND, et al. Osteoporosis medication and reduced mortality risk in elderly women and men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96:1006–14. *Observational study on mortality reduction with drugs for osteoporosis.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. *Sambrook PN, Cameron ID, Chen JS, et al. Oral bisphosphonates are associated with reduced mortality in frail older people: a prospective five-year study. Osteoporos Int. 2011;22:2551–6. *Observational study on mortality with use of bisphosphonates. Deals with all types, and does not separate the types of bisphosphonates.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. **Lyles KW, Colón-Emeric CS, Magaziner JS, et al. Zoledronic acid and clinical fractures and mortality after hip fracture. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:1799–809. **Large scale randomized controlled trial. This is a pivotal study demonstrating mortality reduction with zoledronic acid after a hip fracture.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Boonen S, Orwoll E, Magaziner J, et al. Once-yearly zoledronic acid in older men compared with women with recent hip fracture. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011;59:2084–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Bondo L, Eiken P, Abrahamsen B. Analysis of the association between bisphosphonate treatment survival in Danish hip fracture patients-a nationwide register-based open cohort study. Osteoporos Int. 2013;24:245–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Wolfe F, Bolster MB, O'Connor CM, et al. Bisphosphonate use is associated with reduced risk of myocardial infarction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Bone Miner Res. 2013;28:984–91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Vestergaard P. Acute myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries in patients treated with drugs against osteoporosis: calcium in the vessels and not the bones? Calcif Tissue Int. 2012;90:22–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Kang J, Keller JJ, Lin H. Bisphosphonates reduced the risk of acute myocardial infarction: a 2-year follow-up study. Osteoporos Int. 2013;24:271–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Black D, Cummings S, Karpf D, et al. Randomised trial of the effect of alendronate on risk of fracture in women with existing vertebral fractures. Lancet. 1996;348:1535–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Cummings S, Black D, Thompson D, et al. Effect of alendronate on risk of fracture in women with low bone density but without vertebral fractures: results from the fracture intervention trial. JAMA. 1998;280:2077–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Harris S, Watts N, Genant H, et al. Effects of risedronate treatment on vertebral and nonvertebral fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1999;282:1344–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Reginster J, Minne H, Sorensen O, et al. Randomized trial of the effects of risedronate on vertebral fractures in women with established postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int. 2000;11:83–91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. McClung M, Geusens P, Miller P, et al. Effect of risedronate on the risk of hip fracture in elderly women. Hip intervention program study group. N Engl J Med. 2001;344:333–40.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Black D, Delmas P, Eastell R, et al. Once-yearly zoledronic acid for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. N Engl J Med. 2007;356:1809–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Eriksen EF, Lyles KW, Colón-Emeric CS, et al. Antifracture efficacy and reduction of mortality in relation to timing of the first dose of zoledronic acid after hip fracture. J Bone Miner Res. 2009;24:1308–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Vestergaard P. Antiresorptive therapy for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis: when should treatment begin? Womens Health. 2007;18:13–6.

    Google Scholar 

  40. *Colón-Emeric CS, Mesenbrink P, Lyles KW, et al. Potential mediators of the mortality reduction with zoledronic acid after hip fracture. J Bone Miner Res. 2010;25:91–7. *This is a key study on potential mechanisms behind the reduction in mortality. It investigates the potential mechanisms behind the reduction in mortality with zoledronic acid.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Ryg J, Rejnmark L, Overgaard S, et al. Hip fracture patients at risk of second hip fracture: a nationwide population-based cohort study of 169,145 cases during 1977–2001. J Bone Miner Res. 2009;24:1299–307.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Grady D, Cauley JA, Stock JL, et al. Effect of raloxifene on all-cause mortality. Am J Med. 2010;123:469.e1–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Urushihara H, Kikuchi N, Yamada M, et al. Raloxifene and stroke risks in Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis on postmarketing surveillance. Menopause. 2009;16:971–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Barrett-Connor E, Mosca L, Collins P, et al. Effects of raloxifene on cardiovascular events and breast cancer in postmenopausal women. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:125–37.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Vestergaard P, Schwartz K, Pinholt EM, et al. Stroke in relation to use of raloxifene and other drugs against osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int. 2011;22:1037–45.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Silverman S, Christiansen C, Genant H, et al. Efficacy of bazedoxifene in reducing new vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: results from a 3-year, randomized, placebo-, and active-controlled clinical trial. J Bone Miner Res. 2008;23:1923–34.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Cummings SR, McClung M, Reginster J, et al. Arzoxifene for prevention of fractures and invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. J Bone Miner Res. 2011;26:397–404.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Cummings SR, San Martin J, McClung MR, et al. Denosumab for prevention of fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. N Engl J Med. 2009;361:756–65.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Meunier P, Roux C, Seeman E, et al. The effects of strontium ranelate on the risk of vertebral fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:459–68.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Reginster J, Seeman E, de Vernejoul M, et al. Strontium ranelate reduces the risk of nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: Treatment of peripheral osteoporosis (TROPOS) study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;90:2816–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Vieira HP, Leite IA, Araújo Sampaio TM, et al. Bisphosphonates adherence for treatment of osteoporosis. Int Arch Med. 2013;6:24.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Grey A, Bolland MJ. The effect of treatments for osteoporosis on mortality. Osteoporos Int. 2013;24:1–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Chesnut III C, Silverman S, Andriano K, et al. A randomized trial of nasal spray salmon calcitonin in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis: the prevent recurrence of osteoporotic fractures study. PROOF study group. Am J Med. 2000;109:267–76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Krause D, Hernandez NAS, Vitagliano M, Gilligan J, Buben C. One year use of oral recombinant salmon calcitonin is not associated with increased risk of cancer. ASBMR 2012 annual meeting. presentation number. JBMR. 2012, abstract LB-MO17. Available at: http://www.asbmr.org/Meetings/AnnualMeeting/AbstractDetail.aspx?aid=15a40a6c-4dd3-4827-bf70-07a3cda03a2e

  55. Wells G, Krause D, Chernoff J, Gilligan J. Does calcitonin-salmon cause cancer? ASBMR 2013 Annual Meeting. Presentation. J Bone Miner Res. 2013;28 Suppl 1:FR0401. Available at: http://www.asbmr.org/ItineraryBuilder/PresentationDetail.aspx?pid=869976b0-fe31-4bc3-b4a8-eac74c2ad478&ptag=WebItinerarySearch

  56. Oh YH, Yoon C, Park SM. Bisphosphonate use and gastrointestinal tract cancer risk: meta-analysis of observational studies. World J Gastroenterol. 2012;18:5779–88.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Sun K, Liu JM, Sun HX, et al. Bisphosphonate treatment and risk of esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Osteoporos Int. 2013;24:279–86.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Solomon DH, Patrick A, Brookhart MA. More on reports of esophageal cancer with oral bisphosphonate use. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:1789–90. Author reply 1791–2.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Vinogradova Y, Coupland C, Hippisley-Cox J. Exposure to bisphosphonates and risk of gastrointestinal cancers: series of nested case-control studies with QResearch and CPRD data. BMJ. 2013;346:f114.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Wright E, Schofield PT, Seed P, et al. Bisphosphonates and risk of upper gastrointestinal cancer—a case control study using the general practice research database (GPRD). PLoS One. 2012;7, e47616.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Lee W, Sun L, Lin M, et al. A higher dosage of oral alendronate will increase the subsequent cancer risk of osteoporosis patients in Taiwan: a population-based cohort study. PLoS One. 2012;7, e53032.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Vestergaard P, Schwartz K, Pinholt EM, et al. Gastric and esophagus events before and during treatment of osteoporosis. Calcif Tissue Int. 2010;86:110–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Vestergaard P. Occurrence of gastrointestinal cancer in users of bisphosphonates and other antiresorptive drugs against osteoporosis. Calcif Tissue Int. 2011;89:434–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Abrahamsen B, Pazianas M, Eiken P, Russell R, Graham G, Eastell R. Esophageal and gastric cancer incidence and mortality in alendronate users. J Bone Miner Res. 2012;27(3):679–86.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Pazianas M, Abrahamsen B, Eiken PA, Eastell R, Russell R, Graham G. Reduced colon cancer incidence and mortality in postmenopausal women treated with an oral bisphosphonate—Danish national register based cohort study. Osteoporos Int. 2012;23(11):2693–701.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Chlebowski R, Chen Z, Cauley J et al. Oral bisphosphonates and breast cancer: prospective results from the Women’s health initiative (WHI) (Presented at the 32nd annual San Antonio breast cancer symposium 2009). Cancer Res. 2009; 69 Suppl 1.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Rennert G, Pinchev M, Rennert H. Use of bisphosphonates and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer (Presented at the 32nd annual San Antonio breast cancer symposium 2009). Cancer Res. 2009;69 Suppl 1.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Brufsky A, Bundred N, Coleman R, et al. Integrated analysis of zoledronic acid for prevention of aromatase inhibitor-associated bone loss in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer receiving adjuvant letrozole. Oncologist. 2008;13:503–14.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Vestergaard P, Fischer L, Mele M, et al. Use of bisphosphonates and risk of breast cancer. Calcif Tissue Int. 2011;88:255–62.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Vestergaard P, Rejnmark L, Mosekilde L. Effect of tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors on the risk of fractures in women with breast cancer. Calcif Tissue Int. 2008;82:334–40.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Cummings S, Eckert S, Krueger K, et al. The effect of raloxifene on risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women: results from the MORE randomized trial. Multiple outcomes of raloxifene evaluation. JAMA. 1999;281:2189–97.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Martino S, Cauley J, Barrett-Connor E, et al. Continuing outcomes relevant to Evista: breast cancer incidence in postmenopausal osteoporotic women in a randomized trial of raloxifene. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004;96:1751–61.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Foster SA, Shi N, Curkendall S, et al. Fractures in women treated with raloxifene or alendronate: a retrospective database analysis. BMC Womens Health. 2013;13:15.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Vogel V, Costantino J, Wickerham D, et al. Effects of tamoxifen vs raloxifene on the risk of developing invasive breast cancer and other disease outcomes: the NSABP study of tamoxifen and raloxifene (STAR) P-2 trial. JAMA. 2006;295:2727–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Gissel T, Rejnmark L, Mosekilde L, et al. Intake of vitamin D and risk of breast cancer—a meta-analysis. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2008;111:195–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Colston K, Hansen C. Mechanisms implicated in the growth regulatory effects of vitamin D in breast cancer. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2002;9:45–59.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Wu-Wong J, Tian J, Goltzman D. Vitamin D analogs as therapeutic agents: a clinical study update. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2004;5(3):320–6.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Vestergaard MD, PhD, Dr Med Sc .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Vestergaard, P. (2016). Antiresorptive Therapy, Mortality and Cancer Incidence. In: Silverman, S., Abrahamsen, B. (eds) The Duration and Safety of Osteoporosis Treatment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23639-1_19

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23639-1_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-23638-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-23639-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics