Abstract

Prostate cancer metastases into bones are a very serious complication of the disease which reduces quality of life and increases desease-specific mortality. The pathophysiology of bone metastases is a highly intricate process. A member of different types of cytokines and growth factors take part in this process. An understanding of the pathophysiology provides an opportunity  for palliation: external beam radiation, radioisotopes, biphosphonates and chemotherapy. Biphosphonates reduce the risk of bone complications. Animal models and molecular investigations allow to develop targets for new pharmaceutical agents. The paper presents a short review of the pathophysiology of bone metastases and therapeutic agents.