Update on the pharmacological prevention of skeletal-related events in cancer patients.

Abstract

Metastases to the bone are a frequent complication of advanced cancer. Bone metastases have been linked to skeletal-related events, which is the composite endpoint used in clinical trials evaluating therapy to minimize these complications. This article discusses bisphosphonates, which are the historical standard for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with metastases from solid tumors and multiple myeloma, and denosumab, which is the first Food and Drug Administration-approved receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-β ligand (RANKL) inhibitor.