[Bone and calcium metabolism associated with malignancy. Bone and calcium metabolism associated with malignancy.]

The bones are the most common organ where estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer tends to metastasize. Thus, it is important to treat and prevent bone metastases by studying pathogenesis of developing metastasis to the bones. As advancing treatments have significantly improved the quality of life in patients with bone metastases of breast cancer. Among them, bone-modifying agents have been playing the most crucial roles by reducing the rate of skeletal related events and also having a possibility of favorable effects on prognosis. Zoledronic-acid and denosumab are currently available and denosmab seems to be superior to zoledronic-acid in inhibiting osteoclastic activity. Although both of these are safe drugs, several rare but serious adverse events need to be cautious like osteonecrosis of the jaw, hypocalcemia, renal dysfunction and atypical fracture.