Osteoporotic Fractures of the Spine, Hip, and Other Locations after Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy with Aromatase Inhibitors in Breast Cancer Patients: a Meta-analysis
Young‐Kyun Lee, Eun‐Gyeong Lee, Ha Young Kim, Youjin Lee, Seung-Mi Lee, Dong‐Churl Suh, Jun‐Il Yoo, Seeyoun Lee
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) play an important role in the endocrine therapy of postmenopausal breast cancer patients, with a recent tendency to extend the duration of their use. However, AIs may increase the risk of osteoporotic bone fractures. This meta-analysis evaluated the risk of osteoporotic fractures of the hip, spine, and other locations in breast cancer patients using AIs. METHODS: We performed a systematic search to identify randomized controlled clinical trials that investigated osteoporotic fractures in breast cancer patients on AI therapy. The main outcomes were the incidence and risk of osteoporotic fractures in general and of hip, vertebral, and non-vertebral fractures in AI users and controls. RESULTS: < 0.001), respectively, compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis suggested an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures for AI therapy in patients with breast cancer that was most expressed for vertebral fractures. Breast cancer patients on AIs need to be monitored for osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures, and active prevention measures should be implemented.