Cancer treatment-related bone disease

Crit Rev Eukaryot Gene Expr. 2009;19(1):47-60. doi: 10.1615/critreveukargeneexpr.v19.i1.20.

Abstract

Bone health may be impaired in many patients being treated for cancer. Primary tumors that reside in or form metastases to bone can result in compromised skeletal integrity. It has also been increasingly recognized that patients undergoing therapies for treatment of cancer are at higher risk of bone loss. These include androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer and aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer, among others. Hypogonadism induced by many of these cancer treatments results in bone loss and increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Progress has been made in identifying the role of oral and intravenous bisphosphonates to prevent bone loss in these patients. This review discusses bone loss associated with cancer treatments, with a focus on breast cancer, prostate cancer, and survivors of childhood malignancies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Androgen Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Bone Density
  • Bone Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Bone Diseases / pathology*
  • Bone and Bones / drug effects
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypogonadism / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Medical Oncology / methods
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Aromatase Inhibitors