Kohno et al. – The use of bisphosphonates, especially zoledronic acid, as adjuvant therapy is promising, but it is still investigational. Methods
Review Article
Results
The optimal combination treatment for bone metastases is not clear
Bisphosphonates are effective for reducing skeletal complications such as bone pain, pathological fracture, bone surgery, and hypercalcemia
They are recommended as the gold standard therapy for breast cancer with bone metastases; guidelines tend to recommend starting a bisphosphonate at the time of diagnosis of bone metastases
Animal models have supported the prevention of bone metastasis by bisphosphonate therapy, but three major adjuvant clinical trials of the oral bisphosphonate clodronate have yielded conflicting results; however, a preliminary trial of an intravenous bisphosphonate, pamidronate, showed effective inhibition of bone metastases
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