[Secondary osteoporosis UPDATE. Pathophysiology and management of cancer treatment-induced bone loss/fractures].

Patients with cancers such as breast or prostate cancer who have been treated with hormone deprivation therapies or anti-cancer agents for certain periods of time frequently manifest reduced bone mass or pathological fractures during their clinical course. These are likely due to an imbalance between osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption resulting from hypogonadism. Bone should be carefully monitored in cancer patients who are going to continually receive adjuvant hormonal or anti-cancer therapies. Administration of anti-bone resorption agents such as bisphosphonates may be necessary to maintain bone mineral density and protect pathological fractures in these cancer patients.