Risedronate in Preventing Bone Loss in Premenopausal Women Receiving Chemotherapy for Primary Breast Cancer

Overview

RATIONALE: Preventing bone loss in patients who are receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer may decrease the risk of fractures and may help patients live more comfortably. It is not yet known whether calcium is more effective with or without risedronate in preventing bone loss. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying two forms of calcium with or without risedronate to compare how well they work in preventing bone loss in premenopausal women who are receiving chemotherapy for primary stage I, stage II, stage IIIA, or stage IIIB breast cancer.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Patients are stratified according to planned tamoxifen therapy (yes vs no vs undecided), planned taxane therapy (yes vs no vs undecided), time from last menses (1-3 months vs longer than 3 months to 6 months), and age (under 40 vs 40 to 49 vs 50 and over). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. In both arms, treatment begins during the first month of chemotherapy and continues for 1 year in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. For more information regarding the treatment arms, please see the "Arms" section below. Questionnaires about cessation of menses, ovarian failure, and menopausal symptoms are completed at baseline, monthly during chemotherapy, at 6 months, and then at 1 and 2 years. Patients are followed for 1 year. A summary of study goals is listed below. Goals: 1. To evaluate the effectiveness of risedronate at a weekly oral dose of 35 mg versus placebo in the prevention of bone loss in premenopausal women undergoing adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer. 2. To evaluate the degree of bone loss over one year in premenopausal women undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer according to menopausal status at one year after therapy begins. 3. To evaluate the relationship of current climacteric symptoms, menstrual and reproductive history, and chemotherapy regimen with ovarian failure (permanent cessation of menses) in premenopausal women undergoing adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer. 4. To evaluate the relationship of baseline serum estradiol levels with ovarian failure in premenopausal women undergoing adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer.