Distinct mechanisms of bisphosphonate action between osteoblasts and breast cancer cells: identity of a potent new bisphosphonate analogue.

While the effects of bisphosphonates on bone-resorbing osteoclasts have been well documented, the effects of bisphosphonates on other cell types are not as well studied. Recently, we reported that bisphosphonates have direct effects on bone-forming human fetal osteoblast cells (hFOB). In this report, the role of the mevalonate pathway in the actions of bisphosphonates on hFOB, and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells was examined.