Study of Zoledronic Acid Versus Observation on Bone Mineral Density and Incidence of Micrometastasis in Women Undergoing Pelvic Radiation for Cervical Cancer

The treatment of cervical cancer with chemotherapy and radiation will make women post menopausal (no estrogen from the ovaries), if a woman is not already in menopause. Estrogen plays a key role in maintaining bone health. Therefore, these women are at higher risk of getting osteoporosis (decrease minerals in the bone) and bone fractures. The overall purpose of this research is to look at the effects of zoledronic acid (Zometa) on preventing bone loss. Studies have also shown that zoledronic acid may prevent metastasis to the bone which can occur in women with cervical cancer. Zometa is investigational (not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)) in this study to prevent metastasis to the bone in women with cervical cancer. Therefore, the goal of this study is to also look at the effects of zoledronic acid (Zometa) on circulating tumor cells in the bone marrow and blood. This study is being done to find a way to prevent bone loss and metastasis to the bone in women undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for cervical cancer. An additional component of the study is to assess the importance of stress on immune markers in blood during standard treatment.