[Biphosphonates in the treatment of bone metastasis of prostatic cancer]

Bone metastases are common in patients with prostate carcinoma and they are the most frequent cause of skeletal morbidity. Most of these metastases ar osteocloritic, but it has been shown that the abnormal osteoblastic bone formation is preceded by osteoclastic activity which appears to be associated with bone pain providing the rationale for using biphosphonates as palliative therapy. In a recent study, soledronate has been shown to be effective in patients with osteoblastic bone destruction. This is the first time any bisphosphonate reduces skeletal morbidity.