title: Regression of melanoma metastases following treatment with the n-bisphosphonate zoledronate and localised radiotherapy.
abstract: We report a case of regression of pulmonary and bony metastases in a patient with malignant melanoma following palliative treatment with systemic zoledronate and localised radiotherapy to the bone. Zoledronate is a potent new bisphosphonate used for the treatment of metabolic bone diseases including bone metastases due to its inhibitory effect on osteoclasts. In the context of metastatic cancer zoledronate is routinely used to improve bone pain and reduce the frequency of skeletal events. There is also an increasing body of evidence suggesting that bisphosphonates exhibit anti-tumour properties. Bisphosphonates are able to activate Vgamma9Vdelta2 gamma-delta T cells which can be key players in the immune defence against malignant cells. Furthermore bisphosphonates have direct anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic and pro-apoptotic effects on tumour cells. These actions, together with their low side effect profile, may prove to be useful therapeutic tools in the treatment of cancer even in the absence of bone metastases. On the basis of this case report we here review the current literature on present preclinical and clinical studies using bisphosphonates for the treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: St John's Institute of Dermatology, King's College London, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Laggner
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Warbey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sita-Lumsden
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Doherty
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayday
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harries
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Nestle
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid