Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
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Anticancer Agents Med Chem · Feb 2012
ReviewAnticancer activity of bisphosphonates in breast cancer.
Despite progress in surgical and adjuvant therapy, a subset of patients with early stage breast cancer experience disease recurrence and/or distant metastases. Disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in the bone marrow are believed to be the source of late relapses in bone and other tissues. Bone is the most common site of breast cancer metastasis, and agents that modify the bone microenvironment could therefore affect the disease course. ⋯ Based on recent data, the role of bisphosphonates in the breast cancer setting is expected to expand in the future. With recent changes to treatment guidelines, routine use of bisphosphonates to prevent bone loss during adjuvant therapy is likely to become standard practice, especially for patients receiving endocrine therapy. Furthermore, the use of zoledronic acid to reduce the risk of recurrence is emerging based on ongoing clinical research.