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Bone Mineral Density Among Premenopausal Women With Early Breast Cancer in a Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy

From the Departments of Oncology and Radiology, Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Address reprint requests to Á. Sverrisdóttir, MD, Department of Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge S-E 118 83, Stockholm, Sweden; e-mail: asgerdur.sverrisdottir{at}kus.se

PURPOSE: To examine the effects on bone mineral density of 2 years of treatment with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist alone or in combination with tamoxifen or tamoxifen alone in premenopausal breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We recruited 89 women from two centers in Stockholm participating in a randomized multicenter trial of three different endocrine approaches in the adjuvant setting (Zoladex in Premenopausal Patients Trial). The women were assigned to receive the LHRH agonist goserelin with or without tamoxifen, tamoxifen alone, or no endocrine therapy. The treatment was given for 2 years. We measured total-body bone density before start of treatment and at 12, 24, and 36 months.

RESULTS: After 2 years of treatment, there was a significant loss of bone mineral density (mean change, –5%; P < .001) in the women receiving goserelin alone. The combined goserelin and tamoxifen treatment, as well as tamoxifen alone, resulted in a lesser but statistically significant decline in bone mineral density (mean change, –1.4%; P = .02; and –1.5%; P < .001). One year after cessation of treatment, the goserelin group alone showed a partial recovery from bone loss (mean change, 1.5%; P = .02).

CONCLUSION: Two years of ovarian ablation from goserelin treatment caused a significant reduction in bone mineral density but there was a partial recovery from the bone loss 1 year after cessation of treatment. The addition of tamoxifen seems to partially counteract the demineralizing effects of goserelin.

Supported by a grant from the Swedish Cancer Society, Stockholm, Sweden.

Presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, San Francisco, CA, May 12-15, 2001.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.

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