Zoledronic Acid in Preventing Osteoporosis in Patients Undergoing Donor Stem Cell Transplant

Inclusion Criteria

• Patient age ≥18 years
• Undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) from any stem cell source with either a myeloablative or non-myeloablative conditioning regimen
• Bone mineral density measured by baseline pre-transplant DEXA scan in the osteopenic range (defined as a T-score between -1 and -2.5 standard deviation (SD) at either the lumbar spine or the proximal femur or both)
• Adequate renal function defined as: Calculated creatinine clearance of ≥ 60 ml/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula:
• Serum calcium (corrected) of ≤ 10.5 mg/dl
• Patients (male or female) of reproductive potential are required to use a medically acceptable contraception while receiving zoledronic acid (if assigned study drug).
• Normal dental exam within the year prior to study registration
• Informed signed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria

• Pre-existing metabolic bone disease including osteomalacia, hyperparathyroid bone disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, Paget's disease, rickets, or hypoparathyroidism.
• Multiple myeloma
• History of nontraumatic vertebral compression fractures
• History of the following endocrine disorders - hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism.
• Malabsorption syndrome including Crohn's disease.
• Chronic liver disease
• Concomitant regular use of phenytoin.
• Known hypersensitivity to zoledronic acid (Zometa) or other biphosphonates
• Biphosphonate therapy within the preceding six months.
• Current active dental problems including infection of the teeth or jawbone (maxilla or mandibular); dental or fixture trauma, or a current or prior diagnosis of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), of exposed bone in the mouth, or of slow healing after dental procedures.
• Recent (within 6 weeks) or planned dental or jaw surgery (e.g. extraction, implants)
• Not pregnant or breastfeeding since zoledronic acid is classified as Pregnancy Category C: risk in pregnancy cannot be ruled out. A negative pregnancy test is required within 7 days of registration if pre- or perimenopausal (i.e., last menstrual period within one year of registration). Because it is not known whether zoledronic acid is excreted in breast milk, breastfeeding is not permitted while receiving study drug.