Should Bisphosphonates Be Used Routinely in Patients With Prostate Cancer Metastatic to Bone?
Affiliation of authors: C. M. Canil, I. F. Tannock, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Correspondence to: Ian F. Tannock, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital and University of Toronto, 610 University Ave., Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada (e-mail: ian.tannock{at}uhn.on.ca’ + u + ‘@’ + d + ”//–>). Prostate cancer is a disease that is characterized by a high incidence of metastases to bone, which cause substantial morbidity, including pain, fractures, and spinal cord compression. The primary modality of treatment for patients with metastatic prostate cancer is hormonal therapy, which is designed to reduce the stimulatory effects of androgens on prostate cancer cells. However, long-term use of androgen blockade has been shown to result in osteoporosis, which further contributes to bone fragility (1). Hormonal therapy to suppress serum testosteron
