Journal of International Oncology››2012,Vol. 39››Issue (12): 925-928.

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Roles of bisphosphonate in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer

LI Xu-Yuan, LIN Ying-Cheng

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, China
  • Online:2012-12-08Published:2012-11-15

Abstract:Bisphosphonates are commonly used in patients with breast cancer to reduce skeletal-related events in metastatic disease, mitigate bone loss, and increase bone mineral density. Bisphosphonates can decrease and cleare disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow and circulation tumor cells and thenprevent breast cancer relapse and metastases.Bisphosphonates can lighten tumor burden in the breast when administered with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and improve pathology complete remission rates. Inconsistence is observed in large trials using bisphosphonatesin the adjuvant setting of early breast cancer, but survival improvement is mostly seen in postmenopausal patients with low levels of estrogens.

Key words:Bisphosphonate,Breast neoplasms,Adjuvant therapy