Abstract
Bone metastases from prostate cancer or other solid tumors are complicated by significant morbidity, including skeletal-related events (SREs), which by definition include pathologic fracture, bone surgery, radiation therapy to the bone, and spinal cord compression. These events negatively affect quality of life and present a challenge for the goals of palliative therapy, in terms of managing patients’ pain and preventing further deterioration. Beyond the humanistic impact of SREs, also the economic effects of medically treating SREs deserve a reflection, since all SREs are associated with significant health resource utilization. Every effort must be made to find, among new promising treatments, the best way to prevent or delay SREs in patients with advanced prostate cancer and bone metastases, in order to reduce the burden to both patients and health services.
