Metastatic Bone Disease

Prof. Dr. med. Manfred Kaufmann ist Direktor der Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe der Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität in Frankfurt am Main sowie Kuratoriumsvorsitzender der neu gegründeten Deutschen Krebsstiftung. Prof. Kaufmann gilt als einer der profiliertesten Brustkrebsforscher.

Metastatic Bone Disease: Fundamental and Clinical Aspects is an expanded version of a workshop on bone metastases which was held in Heidelberg, Germany, in April 1993. Bone metastases very often develop from malignant tumors and lead to complications which considerably diminish the quality of life of the patient. Bone pain, pathological fractures, and hypercalcemic syndrome should be recognized and treated early so as to prevent any further morbidity and immobilization. Antiosteolytic substances such as biophosphonate can supplement the established palliative and supportive therapies. Highly qualified basic researchers and clinicians in pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of metastatic bone disease have contributed to this book, providing a good overview of present knowledge and research. The book will be of interest not only to specialists, but also to any physician interested in oncology.

Historical Remarks on Metastasis and Metastatic Bone Disease.- Nature of Metastatic Bone Disease.- Incidence and Distribution of Bone Metastases.- Detection and Characterization of Tumor Cells in Bone Marrow of Patients with Primary Breast Cancer.- Normal Bone Remodeling and Metastatic Bone Disease.- Morphological Findings in Bone Metastasis, Tumorosteopathy and Antiosteolytic Therapy.- Mechanisms of Osteolytic Bone Destruction.- Diagnosis of Skeletal Metastases and Assessment of Response to Treatment.- Biochemical Markers of Bone Metabolism in Metastatic Bone Disease.- Palliative Radiotherapy of Bone Metastases.- Systemic Treatment of Bone Metastases: Review of Literature and Retrospective Analysis of 718 Breast Cancer Patients.- Bisphosphonates: Mechanism of Action and Clinical Use in Hypercalcemia of Malignancy and Tumor-Induced Bone Destruction.- Clodronate Decreases Skeletal Morbidity in Patients with Bone Metastases from Breast Cancer: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.