State of art and advances on the treatment of bone metastases from breast cancer: a concise review

Chin Clin Oncol. 2020 Apr;9(2):18. doi: 10.21037/cco.2020.01.07. Epub 2020 Feb 4.

Abstract

Bone is one of the most common metastatic sites in metastatic breast cancer (mBC). The presence of bone metastases can lead to various complications including pain, spinal cord compression, hypercalcaemia, pathological fractures. The treatment of bone metastases of breast cancer (BC) is mainly based on the biological characteristics of the primary tumour, but there are also specific treatments for bone lesions including bone modifiers, radionuclides, or localized treatments such as radiotherapy, surgery or vertebroplasty. In this review, we analyse the state of art of the common treatments and the advances of bone metastases of BC. Finally, we summarize the state of art of biomarkers in diagnosis, prognosis and prediction to therapy.

Keywords: Breast cancer (BC); biomarkers; bisphosphonates; bone metastases; denosumab.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Metastasis