title: Strategies to prevent chemotherapy-induced bone loss in women with breast cancer.
abstract: Treatment-induced osteoporosis is an increasing problem for women diagnosed with breast cancer. As more women receive adjuvant endocrine therapy and chemotherapy, and breast cancer survival improves, the impact of cancer treatment on bone health and the morbidity associated with chemotherapy-induced bone loss becomes more of a significant medical concern. Endocrine agents like aromatase inhibitors and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists decrease the production of ovarian and adrenal estrogens and are widely used in the adjuvant and metastatic settings for treatment of women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Estrogen is important for bone health. It stimulates osteoblasts and maintains bone integrity. As bone density decreases, the risk of fracture increases. This can include fractures of the wrist, femur, and vertebrae. Several potent bisphosphonates have been developed to prevent or treat cancer treatment-induced bone loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Box 424, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA. rtheriau@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Theriault
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004164:Diphosphonates