title: Osteonecrosis of the jaw and bisphosphonate use in breast cancer patients.
abstract: It is renowned that breast cancer patients suffer from a number of cancer-related skeletal events, while drugs recently added to the practitioners' quiver, such as aromatase inhibitors, intensify the need to preserve bone mass in this group of patients. Bisphosphonates are potent inhibitors of both normal and pathologic bone resorption. Besides their apoptotic and antiproliferative activity on osteoclasts, bisphosphonates can also exert various effects on macrophages, keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw is a complication that emerged after broad clinical use of bisphosphonates, and which has not yet been adequately described in a clinical trial setting. The purpose of this review is to critically reflect the incidence, etiopathogenesis, prevention and treatment of osteonecrosis of the jaw. Succinct suggestions are provided to ensure clinicians prevent and detect the complications early.
authors: Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. akyrgidi@gmail.com
authors: Athanassios
authors: A
authors: Kyrgidis
authors: Stefanos
authors: S
authors: Triaridis
authors: Kostantinos
authors: K
authors: Vahtsevanos
authors: Kostantinos
authors: K
authors: Antoniades
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates