title: A national portfolio of bone oncology trials-The Canadian experience in 2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact of both cancer and its treatment on bone is an essential component of oncological practice. Bone oncology not only affects patients with both early stage and metastatic disease but also covers the entire spectrum of tumour types. We therefore decided to review and summarise bone oncology-related trials that are currently being conducted in Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed ongoing and recently completed trials in Canada. We used available North American and Canadian cancer trial websites and also contacted known investigators in this field for their input.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty seven clinical trials were identified. Seven pertained to local treatment of bone metastasis from any solid tumour type. Seven were systemic treatment trials, five focused on bone biology and predictive factors, three evaluated safety of bone-targeted agents, three were adjuvant trials and two trials investigated impact of cancer therapy on bone health. The majority of trials were related to systemic treatment and bone biology in breast cancer. Most were small, single centre, grant-funded studies. Not surprisingly the larger safety and adjuvant studies were pharmaceutical company driven.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the widespread interest in bone-targeted therapies our survey would suggest that most studies are single centre and breast cancer focused. If major advances in bone oncology are to be made then collaborative strategies are needed to not only increase current sample sizes but to also expand these studies into non-breast cancer populations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre & Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kuchuk
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre & Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simos
authors.affiliation: Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Addison
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre & Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clemons
keywords: Bisphosphonates; Bone; Bone metastasis; Bone treatment; Cancer