The Swiss study posted by Lani seems to confirm previous medical/dental observations that:
1. osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) while rare is a serious side effect
of bisphosphonates (bone damage & infections). See note below.
2. ONJ is much more common among those having dental procedures
3. ONJ is more frequent among multiple myolema patients perhaps due to the
fact that this cancer on its own causes bone damage or because of
adverse interaction between specific anticancer drugs & bisphosphonates .
4. ONJ occurs more frequently in patients who are administered Zometa after
Pamidronate which applies also to the higher frequency of other minor
side effects.
http://patient.cancerconsultants.com....aspx?id=36348
Study Describes Osteonecrosis of the Jaw in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
http://www.us.zometa.com/info/cancer_bones/myeloma.jsp
What You Should Know about Multiple Myeloma.
Myeloma Cells Can Cause Bone Damage
http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/to...eonecrosis.asp
American Dental Association
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
Note:
Most papers dealing with frequency of ONJ due to Zometa call for a 1 to 2% rate of occurence. However a more recent report indicates a 10% rate (& 4% for Pamidronate) & "The mean time for osteonecrosis was 18 months following Zometa and 6 years following Aredia. They also reported that 81% of the patients with osteonecrosis had dental problems compared to 33% in those without osteonecrosis" :
http://professional.cancerconsultants.com/oncology_main_news.aspx?id=37833
Prevention and Management of Bisphosphonate Toxicities Reviewed
However, in the balance with this adverse effect are the potential benefits of Zometa in slowing disease in metastatic bone cancer from breast:
http://professional.cancerconsultant....aspx?id=37172
Zometa® Reduces Cancer Progression Over Clondronate®
Considering the fact that studies in Finland found Clodronate is also helpfull in preventing visceral metastases , the superiority of Zometa may be even more valuable