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Can Healthy Bones Help Prevent the Spread of Breast Cancer?
Fox Chase Cancer Center Physicians Study Bone-Building Drug

PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 12, 2003) — Bones are the most common place in the body where breast cancer spreads, or metastasizes. Physicians at Fox Chase Cancer Center are studying a new drug, clodronate, to see if it can prevent cancer from spreading and developing in the bones.

"We believe that cancer can spread easier and develop in bones that are damaged," said Mary Cianfrocco, D.O., a medical oncologist at Fox Chase and principal investigator of this study. "This study will help us determine if clodronate can block the cancer from spreading by strengthening the bones in women with early stage breast cancer."

Clodronate is a bisphosphonate, a drug that strengthens bones in many patients who take it.

"We also hope that blood tests can help us learn more about the effect breast cancer and/or its treatment has on the health of bones," Cianfrocca added.

This is a randomized, double-blinded study, which means the patient will be randomized (randomly assigned) to receive either the clodronate or placebo (inactive sugar pill). Neither the patient nor the physician will know if the patient is receiving the drug or placebo (double-blinded). Participants in the study will take two pills daily for three years.

This study is sponsored by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP).