Chemical structure of clodronate
Bisphosphonate cancer treatment involves the use of a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates to treat bone problems that arise in some cancer patients. These noncytotoxic drugs include pamidronate (trade name: Aredia), clodronate (trade name: Bonefos) and zoledronic acid (trade name: Zometa). They are bone metabolism regulators, and in anticancer treatment they prevent hypercalcemia (increased calcium in the blood) and they prevent the spread of cancer into surrounding bones.
What Bisphosphonates are effective for and why
Bisphosphonate treatment has been useful in the treatment of multiple myeloma, as well as in some cases of breast cancer and prostate cancer. In addition to preventing hypercalcemia, bisphosphonates may also serve to reduce pain and even shrink some tumors.
Bisphosphonate Side effects
One of the rarest and most serious side effects of bisphosphonate treatment is known as osteonecrosis of the jaw, or ONJ. The American Cancer Society puts it best: "[In OMJ], patients complain of pain and doctors find that part of the jaw bone has died." Science is currently at a loss to explain why this occurs, but since the jaw bone can become infected and teeth can fall out, patients are urged to have a dental check-up prior to beginning bisphosphonate treatment.
Otherwise, bisphosphonate treatment is generally well-tolerated and causes few side effects.
Sources
- American Cancer Society, Bisphosphonates
- Pamindronate, BC Cancer Agency
- Ko, Andrew H MD et al. 2008. Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy, Fifth Ed. Kansas City. Andres McMeel Publishing LLC.
- Boyiadzis, Michael M. et al. Hematology-Oncology Therapy. 2007. New York: McGraw Hill, Medical Publishing Division.
Significant studies relating to bisphosphonates
