endothelin-1 and Osteolysis

It has been long recognized that skeleton represents one of the most favored metastatic sites for common cancers like breast and prostate. During the last decade the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for the development of bone metastasis have been gradually illuminated. It appears that the bone microenvironment has a pivotal role in this process. Metastatic tumor cells interact with bone triggering a cascade of molecular events that produce osteolytic and/or osteoblastic phenomena. In this review, we summarize and discuss the most significant factors and signaling pathways implicated in bone colonization. Moreover, based on the recent literature and data, we foresee the need for designing novel agents that will efficiently disrupt these interactions among cancer cells and bone microenvironment, bringing hope for more effective treatments.

Topics: Animals; beta Catenin; Biphenyl Compounds; Bone Neoplasms; Bone Remodeling; Breast Neoplasms; Cathepsin K; Chemokine CXCL12; Diphosphonates; Endothelin-1; Female; Humans; Hypoxia; Male; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Osteoblasts; Osteoclasts; Osteolysis; Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; Prostatic Neoplasms; RANK Ligand; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; Receptors, CXCR4; Signal Transduction; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; Wnt Proteins

Bone metastases are complications of multiple myeloma and solid tumors, including breast and prostate carcinomas. Several reports have demonstrated that the preference to metastasize to bone by tumor cells is not a casual but an addressed event, which relies on specific interactions among tumor cells, bone marrow microenvironment and bone cells. One of the features that gives tumor cells more chances to survive and proliferate into the bone tissue is osteomimicry, that is the ability to acquire a bone cell phenotype, especially osteoblast-like. As clearly demonstrated, prostate and breast cancer cells try to resemble osteoblasts by expressing bone matrix proteins, the specific marker alkaline phosphatase, and molecules regulating the osteoblast/osteoclast cross-talk. Based on this evidence it is crucial to dissect in more detail the molecular mechanisms underlying the osteomimetic properties of cancer cells and identify new therapeutic targets eventually leading to a better and prolonged life expectation for patients with bone.

Topics: Alkaline Phosphatase; beta 2-Microglobulin; Bone Matrix; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; Bone Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; Endothelin-1; Female; Humans; Male; Models, Biological; Osteoblasts; Osteolysis; Phenotype; Prostatic Neoplasms; Signal Transduction; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; Wnt Proteins

All bone surfaces are periodically remodeled by the coupled and balanced action of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, of which the activities are regulated by a variety of cytokines and growth factors. Patients with cancer metastatic to the skeleton often develop osteolytic bone lesions, in which the actions of osteoclasts and osteoblasts remain coupled, but become imbalanced in sites adjacent to the tumor. The result is net bone loss. Many cancers secrete osteoclast-stimulating cytokines, which increase bone resorption by osteoclasts. In turn, factors released from the bone matrix during osteolysis can stimulate tumor growth. In this so-called "vicious cycle," there are multiple sites that are targets for new bone-directed therapies. A variety of new agents for the treatment and prevention of osteolytic bone metastasis are currently being developed. These include new agents that inhibit osteoclast differentiation, bone adhesion, and osteoclast function. These new strategies have evolved from a better understanding of the interaction between tumor cells and cells in the bone marrow microenvironment. There is great promise that these new bone-targeted therapies can decrease the frequent skeletal-related events that greatly diminish quality of life of patients with bone metastases.

Topics: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Animals; Bone Density Conservation Agents; Bone Neoplasms; Clinical Trials as Topic; Endothelin-1; Humans; Osteoclasts; Osteolysis

Alterations in bone architecture and mineral metabolism are common complications of malignancy. Cancers such as breast, prostate, and lung can affect the skeleton either indirectly through the elaboration of factors that act to disrupt normal calcium homeostasis at the level of the kidney and bone; or directly via secondary spread of tumor to bone. Although the pathophysiology of these skeletal complications is diverse, it is clear that the osteoclast and osteoblast are not just bystanders but are active participants in the development and progression of hypercalcemia and bone metastasis. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of metastasis leading to tumor cell escape, homing, adhesion, and secondary growth in a hospitable environment are evolving. Treatment modalities aimed at not only reducing tumor burden but altering the skeletal response to tumor have shown benefit. Newer generation bisphosphonates are quite effective in controlling hypercalcemia of malignancy and have been shown to delay progression of skeletal metastases. Clearly, cancer-associated bone morbidity remains a major public health problem. To improve therapy and prevention it is important to understand the pathophysiology of the effects of cancer on bone. This review will detail scientific advances regarding this area.

Topics: Animals; Atrasentan; Bone Neoplasms; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cytokines; Diphosphonates; Endothelin-1; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Immunotherapy; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Male; Mice; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Proteins; Osteoblasts; Osteolysis; Pain; Pain Management; Pyrrolidines; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

To determine the mechanism of neuroblastoma (NB) bone invasion/metastasis, it is necessary to investigate the bone invasion/metastasis-related factors in the bone invasion/metastasis process. Some evidence has suggested that various proteins were involved in bone osteolytic response. The invasion/metastasis property and gene expression of NB, however, are still unknown.. Single-cell suspensions of SY5Y and KCNR cells were injected directly into the femur of nude mice. Radiological and histological analyses, immunohistochemistry analyses, and western blot assay were performed to characterize bone metastasis mechanism in these bone metastasis models.. SY5Y and KCNR NB cells result in osteolytic responses in bone metastasis model. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL), parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP), endothelin 1 (ET-1), and CXCR4 were examined and compared among in vitro, in vivo, and normal bone, respectively. PTHrP, OPG, RANKL, and ET-1 except CXCR4 in SY5Y and KCNR NB cells xenografts were strikingly upregulated compared with normal bone and NB cells. However, significantly stronger expression of PTHrP and RANKL was presented than ET-1 and OPG; furthermore, the ratios of expression of PTHrP, RANKL to OPG, and ET-1 were also markedly increased in vivo versus in vitro.. Our study provided evidence that NB cell may enhance bone invasion through PTHrP, OPG, RANKL, and ET-1, especially PTHrP and RANKL which may display stronger effects. CXCR4 appeared not participating in bone invasion, but in tumor growth, and homing to bone. Targeting PTHrP, OPG, ET-1, and RANKL may provide a new insight and method for patient therapy by inhibiting NB bone metastasis and invasiveness.

Topics: Animals; Blotting, Western; Bone Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Endothelin-1; Femur; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Mice; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Transplantation; Neuroblastoma; Osteolysis; Osteoprotegerin; Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; RANK Ligand; Receptors, CXCR4

Approximately 90% of patients who die of Prostate Cancer (PCa) have bone metastases, which promote a spectrum of osteoblastic, osteolytic or mixed bone responses. Numerous secreted proteins have been reported to promote osteoblastic or osteolytic bone responses. We determined whether previously identified and/or novel proteins were associated with the osteoblastic or osteolytic response in clinical specimens of PCa bone metastases.. Gene expression was analyzed on 14 PCa metastases from 11 patients by microarray profiling and qRT-PCR, and protein expression was analyzed on 33 PCa metastases from 30 patients by immunohistochemistry on highly osteoblastic and highly osteolytic bone specimens.. Transcript and protein levels of BMP-2, BMP-7, DKK-1, ET-1, and Sclerostin were not significantly different between osteoblastic and osteolytic metastases. However, levels of OPG, PGK1, and Substance P proteins were increased in osteoblastic samples. In addition, Emu1, MMP-12, and sFRP-1 were proteins identified with a novel role of being associated with either the osteoblastic or osteolytic bone response.. This is the first detailed analysis of bone remodeling proteins in human specimens of PCa bone metastases. Three proteins not previously shown to be involved may have a role in the PCa bone response. Furthermore, our data suggests that the relative expression of numerous, rather than a single, bone remodeling proteins determine the bone response in PCa bone metastases.

Topics: Aged; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; Bone Neoplasms; Bone Remodeling; Endothelin-1; Gene Expression; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Male; Neoplasm Proteins; Osteoblasts; Osteolysis; Phosphoglycerate Kinase; Prostatic Neoplasms; Substance P

Lung cancer is commonly associated with multiple-organ metastasis, and bone is a frequent metastatic site for lung cancer. Lung cancer frequently develops osteolytic, and less frequently osteoblastic, metastasis to bone. Osteolytic metastasis models of lung cancer have been reported, but no osteoblastic metastasis model is available for lung cancer. In the present study, we established a reproducible model of human lung cancer with both osteolytic and osteoblastic changes in natural killer cell-depleted severe combined immunodeficient mice. Intravenous inoculation of ACC-LC-319/bone2 cells resulted in the development of metastatic colonies in the lung, liver, and bone of the mice. As assessed sequentially by X-ray photographs, osteolytic bone lesions were observed by day 28, and then osteoblastic lesions were detected by day 35. Histological examination revealed the presence of bony spurs, a hallmark of osteoblastic bone metastasis, where osteoclasts were hardly observed. Treatment with an anti-human vascular endothelial growth factor antibody, bevacizumab, as well as zoledronate, inhibited the number of experimental bone metastases, including osteoblastic changes produced by ACC-LC-319/bone2 cells. These results indicate that our bone metastasis model by ACC-LC319/bone2 might be useful to understand the molecular pathogenesis of osteolytic and osteoblastic metastasis, and to identify molecular targets to control bone metastasis of lung cancer.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Bevacizumab; Bone Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Diphosphonates; Disease Models, Animal; Endothelin-1; Humans; Imidazoles; Killer Cells, Natural; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Mice, SCID; Osteoblasts; Osteolysis; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Zoledronic Acid