Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Models of Bone Metastasis
08:49

Models of Bone Metastasis

Published on: September 4, 2012

Bisphosphonates and RANK ligand inhibitors for the treatment and prevention of metastatic bone disease

H L Neville-Webbe1, R E Coleman

  • 1Academic Department of Clinical Oncology, Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield S10 2SJ, UK. h.l.neville-webbe@sheffield.ac.uk

European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|March 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Bisphosphonates (BPs) effectively treat bone metastases by inhibiting bone resorption. Ongoing trials investigate BPs for early cancer treatment to prevent metastasis formation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Bone Biology

Background:

  • Bisphosphonates (BPs) are crucial for managing bone metastases by inhibiting osteoclast activity.
  • Cancer invasion of bone increases bone resorption, leading to pain and skeletal events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current and emerging bisphosphonate therapies for metastatic bone disease (MBD).
  • To explore the potential anti-cancer effects of bisphosphonates beyond bone resorption inhibition.
  • To highlight ongoing research into adjuvant bisphosphonate use for early-stage cancer prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trials and emerging data on bisphosphonate use in MBD.
  • Discussion of personalized bisphosphonate therapy and novel bone-targeting agents like denosumab.
  • Analysis of large-scale randomized trials evaluating adjuvant bisphosphonate therapy in early cancer.

Main Results:

  • Bisphosphonates are established treatments for reducing skeletal-related events in MBD.
  • Denosumab shows promise for future MBD management.
  • Preliminary evidence suggests zoledronic acid may have a role in preventing cancer metastasis, though the mechanism is unclear.

Conclusions:

  • Bisphosphonates are vital in managing MBD, with personalized approaches and agents like denosumab advancing care.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the direct anti-cancer effects of bisphosphonates.
  • Results from large adjuvant bisphosphonate trials are anticipated to clarify their role in preventing cancer metastasis.

More Related Videos

Intra-iliac Artery Injection for Efficient and Selective Modeling of Microscopic Bone Metastasis07:00

Intra-iliac Artery Injection for Efficient and Selective Modeling of Microscopic Bone Metastasis

Published on: September 26, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Bone Remodeling01:40

Bone Remodeling

Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during bone...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management01:30

Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management

The diagnosis of renal calculi involves several imaging techniques, including non-contrast CT scans and ultrasound. These methods help visualize kidney stones, assess their size and location, and detect possible obstructions. Additionally, Measuring urine pH is useful for diagnosing specific stone types, such as struvite (alkaline pH) and uric acid stones (acidic pH). Cystine stones are primarily linked to cystinuria, a genetic condition. A urinalysis helps detect blood in the urine (hematuria)...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...