Optimizing patient therapy: the role of bone markers?

A reduction in bone turnover activity, assayed by bone markers, appears to correlate with improved outcomes. Thus, use of bone markers to measure abnormal bone turnover may help identify patients at increased risk for bone complications or skeletal-related events (SREs). In addition, bone markers may prove useful in monitoring response to treatment and customising future treatment. Although many questions remain concerning use of bone markers in the treatment of metastatic cancer, these markers are expected to have a valuable role in managing metastatic bone disease (MBD). This review examines SREs and the burden they impose on patients, the relationship between SREs and bone turnover markers, and the potential role of bone markers in guiding treatment and improving patients' quality of life (QOL).