title: The role of bisphosphonates in the management of prostate cancer.
abstract: Current therapies have extended the survival of patients with prostate cancer. However, these patients often develop skeletal morbidity from disease- and treatment-related effects that undermine skeletal integrity throughout the course of the disease. Low bone mineral density (BMD) is prevalent in patients with early-stage prostate cancer, and androgen-deprivation therapy by either pharmaceutical agent (including hormonal) or surgical castration causes significant decreases in BMD. Fractures can result in a loss of independence and have been associated with shorter survival in patients with prostate cancer. Zoledronic acid is the only bisphosphonate that has demonstrated objective and long-term benefits in reducing skeletal morbidity in patients with bone metastases due to prostate cancer, and it has produced long-term reductions in pain levels compared with placebo in this setting. Therefore, bisphosphonates, particularly zoledronic acid, may provide important benefits for preserving bone health during the course of prostate cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery/Urology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Hôpital Notre-Dame, 1560 Rue Sherbrooke East, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H2L 4M1. fred.saad@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saad
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000639:trends; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013534:Survival; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid