title: Bisphosphonates in breast cancer: clinical activity and implications of preclinical data.
abstract: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed and second deadliest cancer among women. Bisphosphonates are stable pyrophosphate analogues used to treat skeletal-related events resulting from bone metastases. In the adjuvant setting, they have been shown to prevent aromatase inhibitor-associated and chemotherapy-induced bone loss. There is a growing body of evidence that bisphosphonates have direct and indirect anticancer activity in the preclinical and clinical settings. These include the inhibition of tumor growth; induction of apoptosis; synergism with chemotherapy; inhibition of tumor migration, invasion, and metastasis; reduction in disseminated tumor cells; inhibition of angiogenesis; stimulation of immune surveillance; and suppression of bone-derived growth factors. In addition to reducing the risk of breast cancer, bisphosphonate therapy has been shown to improve outcomes of early and metastatic breast cancer treatment. This review provides a brief overview of the current role of bisphosphonates in clinical practice and discusses their potential as anticancer agents.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. aftr@wudosis.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aft
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates