Clinical role of bisphosphonates in the treatment of prostate cancer bone metastases

Intravenous bisphosphonates are the current standard of care for patients with multiple myeloma or breast cancer and bone metastases. However, until recently, bisphosphonates had not demonstrated any significant clinical benefit in patients with prostate cancer and bone metastases. Zoledronic acid is the only bisphosphonate to significantly reduce skeletal complications and durably palliate bone pain in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Recently, the use of zoledronic acid for prostate cancer has been approved by the government. In this article, the mechanism and clinical role of zoledronic acid are reviewed.