Bisphosphonates in cancer therapy

Cancer Lett. 2007 Nov 8;257(1):16-35. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2007.07.007. Epub 2007 Aug 13.

Abstract

Bisphosphonates are the standard of care in the treatment of malignant bone diseases, because of their ability to inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone destruction. We review here preclinical evidence that bisphosphonates also exert direct antitumour effects and antiangiogenic properties. Furthermore, we describe new insights on how bisphosphonates may act synergistically in combination with antineoplastic drugs or gammadelta T cells to exhibit antitumour activity. These findings reveal new exciting possibilities to fully exploit the antitumour potential of bisphosphonates in the clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Diphosphonates / chemistry
  • Diphosphonates / therapeutic use*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Chemical
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Diphosphonates