New development in bisphosphonate treatment. Treatment with bisphosphonates for cancer-induced bone disease

Abstract

Bone metastases and multiple myeloma cause debilitating clinical symptoms including intractable bone pain, disabling multiple fractures and hypercalcemia. Adjuvant endocrine therapies with aromatase inhibitors or androgen deprivation further accelerate bone loss and increase in fracture risk (cancer treatment-induced bone loss) . Bisphosphonates appear to be a current mainstay for the treatment and prevention of the skeletal-related morbidity in cancers. However, osteonecrosis of the jaw emerges as a major concern associated with long-term bisphosphonate use. It is important to clarify the clinical impact of long-term bisphosphonate use and make beneficial use of this agent by eliminating underlying risk of its adverse effects.