[How to treat tumor-induced hypercalcemia]

Cancer hypercalcemia can now be easily and successfully treated in at least 90% of the cases. Standard therapy consists in rehydration and administration of bisphosphonates, namely pamidronate (90 mg), or more recently zoledronic acid (4 mg) which is more potent. When available, ibandronate constitutes an interesting alternative especially that this compound is apparently less nephrotoxic. Recurrent hypercalcemia remains difficult to control but often occurs in quite advanced stages of the neoplastic disease. In the future, antibodies against PTHrP could be useful in well selected patients. Prevention of cancer hypercalcemia is one of the objectives of long-term therapy with bisphosphonates in patients with bone metastases. They reduce the incidence of all complications of metastatic bone disease, including cancer hypercalcemia.