USE OF BISPHOSPHONATES IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC BONE-DISEASE

Tumor-induced osteolysis or lytic bone disease is mediated by osteocla st activation. Osteoclasts cart be activated directly by products prod uced by tumors ol indirectly through other nonmalignant cells. By redu cing osteoclastic activity, bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption, S ince these agents had demonstrated efficacy irt treating other disease s associated with increased bone resorption, including cancer-related hypercalcemia and Paget's disease of bone, studies were initiated to e xplore the use of bisphosphonates in patients with osteolytic bone met astases. Recent, large, randomized, double-blind studies have shown th e efficacy of these agents. in reducing skeletal complications in pati ents with bone metastases from both breast cancer and multiple myeloma .