Abstract
Various primary malignancies develop bone metastases, and the resultant skeletal complications cause significant morbidity/mortality in advanced cancer patients. Bone lesions associated with metastases are traditionally classified radiologically as either osteolytic or osteoblastic, and both types of lesions are associated with elevated levels of specific bone resorption markers. Some common aspects in the pathophysiology of bone lesions have prompted speculation that treatments for osteolytic metastases might also be effective for predominantly osteoblastic metastases, such as in prostate cancer. Potent osteoclast activity inhibitors, bisphosphonates have been successful in the treatment of osteolytic tumor bone disease. Zoledronic acid is the first bisphosphonate shown to have a direct clinical benefit in the treatment of osteoblastic bone metastases, reducing the number and rate of skeletal events in prostate cancer patients with metastatic bone disease. Moreover, the shorter, more convenient infusion time and similar safety profile of 4 mg zoledronic acid compared with 90 mg pamidronate presently make zoledronic acid the preferred therapy for treatment of bone metastases in patients with all types of advanced malignancy.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
