This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Olson, K. Articles by Van Poznak, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Olson, K. Articles by Van Poznak, C. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Significance and impact of bisphosphonate-induced acute phase responses

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

Catherine Van Poznak, MD

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, C346 Med Inn Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0848, cvanpoz{at}umich.edu

Background: Bisphosphonates are synthetic analogs of inorganic pyrophosphates with high avidity for bone, where they bind to hydroxyapatite crystals. Bisphosphonates are effective in decreasing bone resorption, the incidence of skeletal-related events, and pain from bone metastases. These agents have recently become incorporated into the treatment regimen of patients with osteolytic and osteoblastic metastatic bone disease. Although relatively well tolerated, the initial dose(s) of intravenous aminobisphosphonates can be associated with an acute phase response, a nonspecific physiologic reaction associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, fever, and flu like symptoms including fatigue, nausea, and myalgia.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide an updated review of the literature in this field.

Data Sources: A search of PubMed was performed using the key terms bisphosphonate, acute phase response, and cancer, and limited to publications in English. The published literature on acute phase response with bisphosphonate therapy was reviewed.

Results and Conclusions: Approximately 40% of patients receiving aminobisphosphonates experience an acute phase response, which generally occurs only on first exposure to the drug and typically last <72 h. Not all bisphosphonates induce acute phase responses to the same extent. This article reviews acute phase response in patients with metastatic bone disease treated with aminobisphosphonates. J Oncol Pharm Practice (2007) 13: 223—229.

Key Words: bisphosphonates • acute phase responses • safety • advanced cancer treatment

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?