Markers of Bone Metabolism in Women Receiving Aromatase Inhibitors for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

The aromatase inhibitors have been widely incorporated into the adjuvant breast cancer care of postmenopausal women with estrogen and/or progesterone receptor–positive breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitor use is associated with an increased risk of lowering bone mineral density and accelerating the risk of fragility fractures. Optimizing bone health includes appropriate nutrition and exercise, as well as screening for and treatment of low bone mass. Assessment of an individual's risk of fracture typically includes measuring the bone mineral density and other clinical risk factors, and there are evolving data as to the potential added information obtained by measuring biochemical markers of bone metabolism.