Bisphosphonates Not Associated with Risk for Esophageal, Gastric Cancers

Bisphosphonates (Fosamax) Not Associated with Risk for Esophageal, Gastric Cancers

Despite reports suggesting a potential link between oral bisphosphonates and esophageal cancer, the drugs do not appear to pose increased risk, according to a case-control study in JAMA.

Using a national database, U.K. researchers identified some 46,000 adults (mostly older women) who filled a prescription for a bisphosphonate over an 11-year period, and matched them for age and sex to 46,000 controls. During about 4.5 years' follow-up, 0.3% of all subjects developed gastric or esophageal cancer.

Cancer incidence did not differ between the groups. Findings were similar in subanalyses that examined specific types of bisphosphonates, as well as analyses limited to patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease or Barrett esophagus.

The authors conclude: "These drugs should not be withheld, on the basis of possible esophageal cancer risk, from patients with a genuine clinical indication for their use."

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