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Review
. 2016 Jan 21;22(3):906-16.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i3.906.

Bisphosphonates as potential adjuvants for patients with cancers of the digestive system

Celina Ang  1 , Erin Doyle  1 , Andrea Branch  1
Affiliations
Review

Bisphosphonates as potential adjuvants for patients with cancers of the digestive system

Celina Ang et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Best known for their anti-resorptive activity in bone, bisphosphonates (BPs) have generated interest as potential antineoplastic agents given their pleiotropic biological effects which include antiproliferative, antiangiogenic and immune-modulating properties. Clinical studies in multiple malignancies suggest that BPs may be active in the prevention or treatment of cancer. Digestive tract malignancies represent a large and heterogeneous disease group, and the activity of BPs in these cancers has not been extensively studied. Recent data showing that some BPs inhibit human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) signaling highlight a potential therapeutic opportunity in digestive cancers, many of which have alterations in the HER axis. Herein, we review the available evidence providing a rationale for the repurposing of BPs as a therapeutic adjunct in the treatment of digestive malignancies, especially in HER-driven subgroups.

Keywords: Bisphosphonates; Cancer; Gastrointestinal; Hepatobiliary; Human epidermal growth factor.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chemical structure of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates and effects on the mevalonate synthesis pathway.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pleiotropic biological effects of bisphosphonates.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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