The effect of exemestane and tamoxifen on bone health within the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial: a meta-analysis of the US, German, Netherlands, and Belgium sub-studies

Hadji, P.; Asmar, L.; Nes, J.G.H. van; Menschik, T.; Hasenburg, A.; Kuck, J.; ... ; Ziller, M. (2010)

Article / Letter to editor

PURPOSE: We performed a meta-analysis of three sub-studies of the randomized Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial to determine the effects of exemestane and tamoxifen on bone health. METHODS: Patients received exemestane or tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed at baseline and after 12 and 24 months of treatment. Bone turnover markers were also measured. RESULTS: Patients receiving tamoxifen showed a mean increase from baseline in lumbar spine BMD of 1.2% at month 12 and 0.2% at month 24. Patients receiving exemestane showed a mean decrease from baseline of 2.6% after 12 months and 3.5% after 24 months. There were significant differences in the changes in lumbar spine BMD between treatment groups (P < 0.0001 at both time points). Changes in BMD from baseline at the total hip were also significantly different between exemestane and tamoxifen (P < 0.05 at both time points). Bone turnover markers decreased from baseline with tamoxifen and increased with exemestane. CONCLUSIONS: Exemestane resulted in decreases in BMD and increases in bone turnover markers. BMD increased and bone turnover markers decreased with tamoxifen.

• All authors: Hadji, P.; Asmar, L.; Nes, J.G.H. van; Menschik, T.; Hasenburg, A.; Kuck, J.; Nortier, J.W.R.; Velde, C.J.H. van de; Jones, S.E.; Ziller, M.
• Date: 2010-12-18
• Journal: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
• DOI: doi:10.1007/s00432-010-0964-y