Aim: To investigate retrospectively the effects of bone metastases and bisphosphonates in sunitinib-treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients.
Patients & methods: Patients in Groups (Gp) 1 and 2, but not Gp3, had bone metastases. Gp2 received bisphosphonates following standard practice.
Results: Gp2 had less favorable prognosis than Gp1. Gp3 had fewer metastases and the best prognosis. More serious adverse events occurred in Gp2 versus Gp1. The difference in overall survival between Gp1 and Gp2 was not significant after adjusting for covariates. Significantly shorter overall survival in Gp1 versus Gp3 persisted after adjusting for covariates.
Conclusion: Bone metastases may have a negative prognostic impact in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Bisphosphonates may have delayed early disease progression for prognostically worse sunitinib/bisphosphonate-treated patients.
Keywords: VEGF; angiogenesis inhibitor; metastasis; pamidronate; renal cell carcinoma; sunitinib; zoledronic acid.