Bone tissue as the site of action of oncological drugs

Anticancer therapy has multiple, sometimes life-threatening side effects, and their influence on bone is not seen as important. Data have been published confirming the existence of side effects chemotherapy has on bone, which affect patients’ quality of life. They influence a bone tissue not only in a direct way, but also when suppressing the activity of gonads. We have no information on the impact of drugs on bone belonging to the “targeted therapies”. There are, however, some attempts to create antibodies that target proteins involved in bone physiology. Relatively well known is the impact of anti-cancer hormone therapy on bone metabolism. The most commonly used drugs in this type of therapy are: analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), aromatase inhibitors and antiandrogens. A group of preparations particularly connected with this issue is the bisphosphonates, entering into interaction both with bone cells and colonizing tumour cells.