I found this site about how Zometa might work. You know what I say? Cool! I think I like it already!
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100004910.html
The way I understand it is that your bones are always being rebuilt and reformed by two kinds of cells called osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Osteoclasts take away the old bone and osteoblasts help rebuild new bone.
But when there are bone metastases from breast or prostate cancer (according to this report), it's like the osteoclasts get carried away and take away too much bone. Zometa binds to the bone and stops the osteoclasts from breaking it down too much.
Also, breastcancer.org had this to say about Zometa and bone mets in May 2008 - see the sidebar to the right. Early results of Phase I studies suggest that Zometa makes it harder for cancer cells to survive, grow, and reproduce in bone.
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/new_research/20080516b.jsp
A news report states the following:
"Tumor cells are continually being released from the primary tumor," Dr. Rebecca Aft, of Barnes Jewish Hospital and Washington University in St. Louis, said in a statement.
"It is thought that the bone marrow harbors these cells and that these cells are likely to evolve into metastatic disease. We think that zoledronic acid changes the bone marrow so that cancer cells are unable to lodge there."
See why I think I will like this drug? Now that I think that the little cancer cell factory has been shut down (the primary tumor), that leaves those little buggers hiding out in my bone marrow. The researchers felt that Zometa changes the bone marrow so that cells cannot stay there.
Take that, you little buggers!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Some more on Zometa
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Interesting information, Dee. You gotta like that type of study. Seeing how I've been on Zometa for a good five years or so ... you'd think I was gold? LOL.
Hi Liz,
Yes, I'd say you're gold! I assume that you've been doing pretty well on it, since you don't seem to talk about it much. Also, when was the last time you had bone mets?
I hope you're doing well with your radiation! You were actually able to leave a comment - the computer gods must've been smiling on you yesterday!
That sounds good Dee. It's nice to research something and find out it may be of a big benefit.
Hi Dee, Thanks for your comment on my blog and regarding what you said about N.E.D., I thought you'd get a kick out of what a stage IV melanoma patient who hasn't been disease free in many years but keeps on keeping on says about N.E.D. He used to sign his posts on the MPIP, N.E.D. (no evidence of death). I always figured if I ever have a recurrence I'll have to borrow that one although obviously I'd rather continue on with my no evidence of metastatic or recurrent disease which is the full way they write it out on my scans. I guess that means I'm really NERMD.
Post a Comment