Bone mets pain and IV Bisphosphonates--what is the evidence?

Here's a just-published survey of studies on various methods for the relief of the pain of bone mets, available in full text. Metastatic bone pain: treatment options with an emphasis on bisphosphonates is by a group of Swiss researchers, and is published in the journal Supportive Care in Cancer.

What I find interesting is this article's focus on the available evidence for the use of IV bisphosphonates, Aredia (pamidronate) and Zometa (zoledronic acid) for the relief of pain. Taking one of these two drugs is the recommended standard of care for all women with bone mets--although optimal frequency is still unclear, because of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in some patients.

Today, painful broken bones and the surgeries to repair them are far less common than they were a decade ago. Very high levels of calcium dissolved into the blood, known as hypercalcemia, are no longer a frequent late complication.

Now, evidence from many randomized controlled trials confirms that these drugs also help to reduce bone pain. Of course, women have been telling us this for years!

Musa