Bone is the most common organ for tumor metastasis, especially in patients with cancers of the breast or prostate. Bone metastases disrupt skeletal metabolism, resulting in considerable skeletal morbidity and chronic pain. This Review summarizes the clinical trial data of bisphosphonates for the prevention of skeletal-related events and the palliation of bone pain. The authors discuss how nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates have demonstrated great promise in patients with advanced malignancies.
