Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Bone

Causes of low bone mass in breast cancer—time for action?

Low bone mass is common in postmenopausal women with breast cancer and is often attributed to the combined effects of estrogen depletion and age. A new study identifies high frequencies of hyperparathyroidism and vitamin D deficiency in survivors of breast cancer and recommends routine investigation for secondary causes of low bone mass.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Mann, G. B., Kang, Y. C., Brand, C., Ebeling P. R. & Miller, J. A. Secondary causes of low bone mass in patients with breast cancer: a need for greater vigilance. J. Clin. Oncol. 27, 3605–3610 (2009).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Saad, F. et al. Cancer treatment-induced bone loss in breast and prostate cancer. J. Clin. Oncol. 26, 5465–5476 (2008).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hadji, P. et al. Practical guidance for the management of aromatase inhibitor-associated bone loss. Ann. Oncol. 19, 1407–1416 (2008).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Reid, D. M. et al. Guidance for the management of breast cancer treatment-induced bone loss: A consensus position statement from a UK Expert Group. Cancer Treat. Rev. 34 (Suppl. 1), S3–S18 (2008).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Fraser, W. D. Hyperparathyroidism. Lancet 374, 145–158 (2009).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Lundgren, E., Rastad, J., Thrufjell, E., Akerström, G. & Ljunghall, S. Population based screening for primary hyperparathyroidism with serum calcium and parathyroid hormone values in menopausal women. Surgery 121, 287–294 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Camacho, P. M. et al. Prevalence of secondary causes of bone loss among breast cancer patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis. J. Clin. Oncol. 26, 5380–5385 (2008).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Chlebowski, R. T. et al. Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and risk of breast cancer. J. Natl Cancer Inst. 100, 1581–1591 (2008).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Hadji, P. et al. Bone mass and the risk of breast cancer: the influence of cumulative exposure to estrogen and reproductive correlates. Results of the Marburg breast cancer and osteoporosis trial(MABOT). Maturitas 56, 312–321 (2007).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert E. Coleman.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coleman, R., Walsh, J. Causes of low bone mass in breast cancer—time for action?. Nat Rev Endocrinol 6, 10–12 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2009.244

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2009.244

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Cancer

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Cancer newsletter — what matters in cancer research, free to your inbox weekly.

Get what matters in cancer research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Cancer