Adjuvant Bisphosphonate Therapy in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer

Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2018 Mar 12;19(4):18. doi: 10.1007/s11864-018-0535-z.

Abstract

Bone health and breast cancer are two connected subjects, because breast cancer patients have a higher prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis and reduced bone health parameters than healthy woman of the same age. Therefore, the positive effect of adjuvant bisphosphonate therapy plays an important role in breast cancer treatment. Several randomized trials have studied bisphosphonates in the adjuvant setting in postmenopausal woman and demonstrated their potential to prevent treatment-induced bone loss. The prevention of fractures and the subsequent preservation of patients' quality of life are important arguments for the use of adjuvant bisphosphonates in postmenopausal breast cancer patients. In addition, trials of adjuvant bone-targeted agents showed a reduction of recurrences in and outside bone and an improved outcome in patients treated with bisphosphonates.

Keywords: Adjuvant; Antitumor effect; Bone loss; Bone metastasis; Postmenopausal.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bone Remodeling / drug effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / methods
  • Diphosphonates / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control
  • Osteoporosis / chemically induced
  • Osteoporosis / prevention & control*
  • Postmenopause

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Diphosphonates