Bisphosphonate therapy in metastatic breast cancer

Five long-term controlled studies on the effect of supportive bisphosphonate treatment in metastatic breast cancer with bone metastases have been published, In two of the studies pamidronate was used and in three clodronate, According to these trials supportive bisphosphonate treatment in metastatic breast cancer diminishes the risk of malignant, pathological fractures and bone pain. In several of these trials a retarding effect on the progression of previous and new bone metastases could also be documented, One further large trial, hitherto published only in abstract form, indicates that the development of bone invasion can also be retarded by bisphosphonate treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer without bone metastases.