Bone metastases, the most common metastatic manifestation of many cancers, including breast cancer and prostate cancer, contribute significantly to the pain and disability often associated with later stages of malignant disease. Although bisphosphonates have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of metastatic bone disease (MBD), identifying patients most likely to develop bone metastases (and thus to benefit from treatment) is a challenge. In recent years, advances in understanding the pathophysiologic underpinnings of bone metastases have led to the discovery of several potential markers for dysregulation of bone coupling. Trials have been conducted to validate these biochemical markers and to explore their possible role in measuring efficacy of bisphosphonate treatment and of other metastatic bone therapies. In no area is this research more important than in the management of breast cancer. Although the value of these bone turnover markers is still unclear, and further research is necessary, results from these recent trials indicate some correlation.

中文翻译：

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乳腺癌中的生化骨标志物。

骨转移是许多癌症（包括乳腺癌和前列腺癌）中最常见的转移性表现，对导致通常与恶性疾病后期相关的疼痛和残疾有重大贡献。尽管双膦酸盐已显示出治疗转移性骨病（MBD）的功效，但鉴定最有可能发生骨转移（从而从治疗中受益）的患者仍然是一项挑战。近年来，在了解骨转移的病理生理基础方面的进展导致发现了几种潜在的骨偶联失调标志物。已经进行了试验以验证这些生化标志物，并探索它们在测量双膦酸盐治疗和其他转移性骨疗法的功效中的可能作用。这项研究在任何领域都比乳腺癌的治疗更重要。尽管这些骨转换标记物的价值尚不清楚，并且有必要进行进一步的研究，但这些最新试验的结果表明存在一定的相关性。