In addition, when these compounds are given earlier in the course of illness the overall prognosis of the patient appears improved. There was other evidence that bisphosphonates could cause the death of myeloma cells. And a prominent myeloma specialist said his group had found a viral cause for multiple myeloma. Symposium Chairman Greg Mundy told the group that studies by his group at the University of Texas Health Science Center, show there now is clear evidence that bisphosphonates inhibit the growth and spread of bone lesions and reduce the number of tumors. Other doctors echoed these findings in their presentations and several said bisphosphonates in sufficient doses actually cause tumor cells to die.
Present doses are sub-optimal.
In the U.S. the standard dose for Aredia is now 90 mg once a month. But the doctors who supervised FDA studies for this protocol are now starting trials at much high doses. Most of the patients reported less pain and their markers from bone resorption dropped as did markers for tumor growth. The bisphosphonates were all reported to be well tolerated. But about 30 per cent of patients report a transient increase in pain during early infusions .