This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: theoncologist.2008-0209v1 14/2/181    most recent eLetters: Submit a response to this article Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints/Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Van den Wyngaert, T. Articles by Vermorken, J. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Van den Wyngaert, T. Articles by Vermorken, J. B.

Bisphosphonates in Oncology: Rising Stars or Fallen Heroes

^aDepartment of Medical Oncology and ^bDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; ^cDepartment of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, ZNA Middelheim, Wilrijk, Belgium

Key Words. Bisphosphonates • Palliative care • Adjuvant drug therapy • Osteonecrosis • Jaw

Correspondence: Correspondence: Tim Van den Wyngaert, M.D., Department of Medical Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, Belgium. Telephone (mobile): 32-473-542124; Fax: 32-3-8253308; e-mail: tim.van.den.wyngaert{at}skynet.be

Received September 19, 2008; accepted for publication January 2, 2009.

Disclosures: Tim van den Wyngaert: Consultant/advisory role: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Honoraria: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Manon T. Huizing: None; Eric Fossion: Consultant/advisory role: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Jan B. Vermorken: None

The introduction of bisphosphonates in oncology has dramatically changed the management of patients with metastatic bone disease. In this manuscript, we thoroughly scrutinize the available body of clinical trials supporting the use of bisphosphonates in this setting and review new and ongoing research. Additionally, we summarize the data showing the benefits of bisphosphonate use in the prevention of treatment-induced bone loss and the intriguing emerging evidence on the antitumor potential of some of these agents when used in the adjuvant setting. Finally, we address the need for a careful consideration of potential benefits of bisphosphonate therapy and the risk for osteonecrosis of the jaw, a recently recognized late-toxicity of their use.

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