Antiresorptive Therapies for the Treatment of Malignant Osteolytic Bone Disease.

Osteolytic bone disease contributes to morbidity and mortality. Antiresorptive therapies reduce the morbidity of metastatic bone disease and alter the natural progression of malignant bone pathophysiology. Several trials showed improvement in quality of life, delay of skeletal-related events, and improvement in bone pain with these agents. Evolving data suggest a role of improvement in morbidity related to other cancer therapies that have potential side effects. Early indication shows they may alter survival in a subset of patients. This article reviews data confirming the efficacy of antiresorptive agents and discusses preliminary data on preventative therapy.