title: Advances in management of bone disease in breast cancer.
abstract: Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy diagnosed in women. Although there have been huge advances in treatment in recent years leading to excellent outlooks for many women, a significant number of patients are developing bone complications. This is often due to metastatic bone disease, which occurs in approximately 70% of women with advanced breast cancer. Additionally, accelerated bone loss and associated complications such as fractures may be a consequence of adjuvant treatment. Whatever the cause, cancer-induced bone disease can have potentially devastating clinical consequences for the patient, and results in a considerable economic burden to the health care provider. This review addresses the causes and sequelae of bone disease in both early and advanced breast cancer. The evidence for preserving bone health, both with traditional treatments such as bisphosphonates and newer agents, including antibody therapy is reviewed, with recommendations for current practice. Finally, we discuss the emerging potential role of bone-targeting therapies in preventing the development of metastatic disease.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology, Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield, S10 2SJ, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Walkington
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Coleman
mesh_terms: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates