Cancer-related bone problems are usually treated with intravenous bisphosphonates. However, the drug treatment has been found by UTMB researchers to increase the risk of jaw or facial bone disease or infection.

In addition, patients who had taken higher doses of the drugs over time were more likely to have experienced jaw and facial bone disease.

According to Gregg S. Wilkinson, professor of preventive medicine and community health at UTMB and lead author of the study:

"This study is based on a much larger population than earlier investigations of this phenomenon, and while those studies gave rise to a lot of speculation, this one definitely implies that something serious is going on.

We haven't proven causation, but we found a very strong association between these drugs and disease involving the face and jaw bones.

"The fact is, we see increased risk depending on the total amount of bisphosphonates received. The higher the dose, the greater the risk, and the lower the dose, the lower the risk."

Treatment with intravenous bisphosphonates can lead to a much better quality of life for many cancer patients. But if jaw or facial bone disease or infection is a side effect, clinicians may have to weigh the advantages of the treatment before administration.

Study findings have been described in a paper published online June 26 by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Find more details from the full report.