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This article is based on a systematic literature search and meta-analyses of clinical data regarding effects of bisphosphonates (BP) and denosumab (DS) on preventing skeletal related events (SRE) in patients with bone metastases from solid tumours. Although there are pharmacological differences between the different types of BP no major differences were observed between BP in preventing SRE or in adverse events. Treatment with DS has in three randomised trials showed a greater effect than BP in preventing SRE. The optimal choice of bone-anti-resorptive agent should depend on the patient's general condition, renal function and treatment logistics.

2-5% of breast cancers are locally advanced (LABC). The standard treatment is neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) with an anthracycline-based regimen followed by surgery and adjuvant therapy. Pathological complete response (pCR) to NC is correlated to survival. However, only a small percentage of patients achieve pCR and the prognosis is poor. Addition of paclitaxel or docetaxel increases clinical and pathologic response rates. In addition trastuzumab seems effective. Prediction of treatment response may be guided by novel biotechnological approaches.