Prevention of Bone Metastases

Bone metastases continue to be a major cause of morbidity in cancer patients, but improved understanding of the biology of bone metastases has led to the identification of drugs that are of potential value in not only their treatment but also their prevention. This book, written by recognized experts in the field, provides a detailed overview of current knowledge on this subject. One important focus of the book is the efficacy of bisphosphonates in preventing bone metastases in patients with breast, lung, and prostate cancer and disease progression in cases of multiple myeloma. The combined use of bisphosphonates and cytostatics is also discussed, with a report on first clinical data. Further topics addressed include the significance of the bone microenvironment, special issues in the elderly patient, the use of bone turnover markers, and initial findings obtained with denosumab.

Inhalt

Preclinical models that illuminate the bone metastasis cascade.- The role of bone microenvironment, vitamin D and calcium.- Bisphosphonates: Prevention of bone metastases in breast cancer.- Bisphosphonates: Prevention of bone metastases in lung cancer.- Bisphosphonates: Prevention of bone metastases in prostate cancer.- Bisphosphonates: Prevention of disease progression in patients with multiple myeloma.- Combinations of bisphosphonates and classical anticancer drugs - a preclinical perspective.- Special issues in the elderly patient.- Denosumab: First data and ongoing studies on the prevention of bone metastases.- Diagnostic and prognostic use of bone turnover markers.- Osteolytic and osteoblastic bone metastases: Two extremes of the same spectrum?.