Bone metastases in prostate cancer: a targeted approach

Abstract

Purpose of review: New therapies are needed for hormone refractory prostate cancer. Promising new treatments specifically target metastatic disease in the bone, the predominant site of spread in prostate cancer. Recent advances in the understanding of the biology of the tumor-bone microenvironment are leading to the development of new bone-targeted therapies. In this article, we review current and developing clinical strategies designed to control prostate-cancer bone metastases.

Recent findings: Newly developed biologic therapies that target prostate-cancer bone metastases have shown promising results in animal models and clinical trials. Additionally, currently established drugs such as bisphosphonates and bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals are being applied in novel ways in an effort to improve patient care.

Summary: Therapies targeting bone in advanced prostate cancer have demonstrated improvements in morbidity, and more recently, in overall survival. The continuing development and use of these targeted therapies have the potential to alter the course of this currently fatal disease.