
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”
This trial looked at using zoledronic acid to help reduce the thickening of, and the amount of fluid made by, the lining covering the lung (the pleura).
In some people with cancer, the lining between the lung and the chest wall can become thicker. For others this lining makes extra fluid which collects in the space between the lung and chest wall (pleural effusion). Both of these can cause breathing problems.
Doctors can drain the excess fluid away by putting a tube into the space between the chest wall and the lung. But the space can fill with fluid again. So they may need to keep putting the tube in, or keep it in to drain the fluid away when necessary.
The researchers who did this trial thought that zoledronic acid might help.
The aims of this trial were to find out if zoledronic acid could:
The trial team found that having zoledronic acid wasn’t a useful treatment for people with breathlessness caused by excess fluid around the lung.
24 people took part in this trial. They were put into 1 of 2 treatment groups at random.
The researchers:
They had the results for 20 people. They found no significant difference between the 2 different groups.
The researchers say that the following factors could have affected these results. The group who had zoledronic acid:
They also say that it was the first time zoledronic acid was used for fluid collections around the lungs and only a very small number of people took part.
The researcher concluded that although the treatment didn’t work, there might be possible benefits for certain groups of people. 2 people with pleural showed a slight benefit from this treatment. But the findings from the study are not good enough to recommend this treatment as an option at present. The research team are currently conducting a feasibility trial in using zoledronic acid for people with mesothelioma who are having chemotherapy.
We have based this summary on information from the research team. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists () and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team who did the research. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr Amelia Clive
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
Novartis
University of Bristol
North Bristol NHS Trust
UK Medical Ltd
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”