Abstract
It is renowned that breast cancer patients suffer from a number of cancer-related skeletal events, while drugs recently added to the practitioners’ quiver, such as aromatase inhibitors, intensify the need to preserve bone mass in this group of patients. Bisphosphonates are potent inhibitors of both normal and pathologic bone resorption. Besides their apoptotic and antiproliferative activity on osteoclasts, bisphosphonates can also exert various effects on macrophages, keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw is a complication that emerged after broad clinical use of bisphosphonates, and which has not yet been adequately described in a clinical trial setting. The purpose of this review is to critically reflect the incidence, etiopathogenesis, prevention and treatment of osteonecrosis of the jaw. Succinct suggestions are provided to ensure clinicians prevent and detect the complications early.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.