Medical management of metastatic bone disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To highlight recent advances in the medical management of metastatic bone disease.

RECENT FINDINGS: Progress has been made in quality of life assessment and pain measurement; in novel ways to use bisphosphonates, especially in the adjuvant setting for prevention of bone metastases and in combination with other pharmaceutical agents, where synergistic enhancement holds high potential; in targeted therapies using novel agents, especially with denosumab which is approaching registration; in the use of bone biomarkers to direct therapy and as surrogate endpoints; in development of radiopharmaceuticals for improved treatment of disseminated bone pain.

SUMMARY: Metastatic bone disease continues to present management challenges, but these challenges are being met with an increased armamentarium of available interventions.