Fosamax for Childhood Cancer Survivors

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 3

Conditions: Osteoporosis

Treatments: Drug: Alendronate; Drug: Placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00391404

HK-CCFGrants2005.TFL

Details and patient eligibility

About

Survivors of childhood cancers face a variety of long-term problems. The investigators' recent study found that osteoporosis and osteopenia were common among these patients. The factors leading to, as well as the best treatment option for, this morbidity are unclear. Bisphosphonates are currently the standard therapy for osteoporosis in the elderly. However, the efficacy and safety of bisphosphonates for treating osteoporosis in long-term cancer survivors have not been tested. The investigators hypothesize that alendronate, an orally active bisphosphonate, is efficacious and safe in the treatment of osteoporosis in these patients.

Full description

The modern treatment for childhood malignancy includes surgery and chemoradiotherapy either individually or in combination. Despite the great achievement in improving patient survival, these treatments also greatly enhance the adverse effects on the unfortunate children. Our research group has recently conducted a pioneer study on the bone mineralization and bone mineral density (BMD) study in longterm childhood cancer survivors in local patients who have completed anti-cancer treatment for at least five years. This landmark study showed that persistent treatment-related adverse effects on skeletal development are common (up to 50%) in local long-term survivors of childhood cancers. Thus, it is important during this critical period of rapid somatic growth in adolescents and young adults that these cancer survivors achieve their peak potential for bone mineralization and strengthening. In this proposed study, we investigate with a randomized and controlled study design on the efficacy of a second-generation oral bisphosphonate, alendronate, to improve BMD over a 36-week period in long-term survivors of childhood cancers in Hong Kong. In addition to alendronate, all subjects in the active and control groups will receive alfacalcidol (vitamin D) and calcium carbonate throughout the whole study period. The study results will help paediatric oncologists to decide on the optimal remedial treatments against osteoporosis in long-term cancer survivors.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 15+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Chinese patients who completed treatments for childhood cancers for at least 5 years
• Currently followed up in the Department of Paediatrics of Prince of Wales Hospital
• Younger than 18 years old at the time of diagnosis of underlying cancers
• Evidence of osteoporosis (i.e. BMD T- or Z-score < -2.5 at lumbar spine)
• Older than 15 years of age at the time of recruitment

Exclusion criteria

• Current treatment (i.e. within 6 months) with maintenance systemic or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids
• Subjects who cannot cooperate for BMD measurements
• Pregnant female patients
• Subjects with prior history of allergy to alendronate or in whom alendronate treatment is contraindicated

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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100 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Alendronate

Active Comparator group

Description:

Oral alendronate 70 mg weekly

Treatment:

Drug: Alendronate

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Conventional drug treatment

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo