title: Zoledronic acid - a multiplicity of anti-cancer action.
abstract: Bisphosphonates (BPs) are inhibitors of bone-resorption and have become the current standard of care for preventing skeletal complications associated with bone metastases. Among BPs, zoledronic acid (ZOL) has the strongest activity of anti-bone resorption and shows diverse direct anti-cancer effects in vitro. Some chemical and biological characteristics of ZOL indicate the potential for in vivo growth inhibition and the mechanisms responsible for the observed anti-cancer effects are beginning to be elucidated. ZOL inhibits farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. Consequently, it inhibits the prenylation of small G-proteins such as Ras, Rap1, Rho and Rab, reduces the signals they mediate, and thereby prevents the growth, adhesion/spreading, and invasion of cancer cells. ZOL, which has a high affinity for mineralized bone, rapidly localizes to bone, resulting in therapeutically effective local concentrations for the cancer cells in bone. ZOL also blocks osteolysis and osteoclastgenesis, thus preventing the release of various growth factors which are abundantly stored in bone. Moreover, ZOL stimulates gammadelta T cells, which play important roles in innate immunity against cancer. In addition, ZOL is also a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis, probably due to the modification of various angiogenic properties of endothelial cells. Furthermore, ZOL synergizes with a variety of anticancer agents including chemotherapeutic drugs, molecular targeted agents, and other biological agents. Based on these potential anti-cancer properties, several clinical trials have been initiated to test the combination of ZOL and other agents. The accumulated encouraging evidence to date indicate that ZOL is an attractive anti-cancer agent which promises to be the next exciting therapy for patients with various cancers.
authors: Department of Urology, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita, Japan. yuasa@doc.med.akita-u.ac.jp
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Yuasa
authors: Shinya
authors: S
authors: Kimura
authors: Eishi
authors: E
authors: Ashihara
authors: Tomonori
authors: T
authors: Habuchi
authors: Taira
authors: T
authors: Maekawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000556:secondary; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid