These results are striking in postmenopausal women. The survival advantage in postmenopausal women leaves no room for interpretation. If survival is improved, you have done something good,” stated Peter Ravdin, MD, commenting on the EBCTCG meta-analysis presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Dr. Ravdin is Co-Director of the San Antonio meeting, as well as Director of the Breast Health Clinic at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

When asked whether oncologists in the United States will offer adjuvant bisphosphonates to postmenopausal women based on this study, Dr. Ravdin said, “Guidelines will drive treatment, and I’m almost sure the [National Comprehensive Cancer Network] will incorporate them in the guidelines for adjuvant therapy.”

Citing “fantastic” improvements in the treatment of breast cancer over the past few decades, he continued, “Hormonal agents improve survival by 30%, chemotherapy improves survival by 30%, trastuzumab [Herceptin] improves survival by 30% in HER2-positive breast cancer, and now this study shows a further 17% improvement in survival for postmenopausal women with bisphosphonates.” ■

Disclosure: Dr. Ravdin reported no potential conflicts of interest.