OPG/RANKL/RANK Pathway as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer

• Published in: Journal of thoracic oncology Vol. 6; no. 9; pp. 1468 - 1473
• Main Author: McGrath, Emmet E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2011; International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Bone disease; Bone Neoplasms - metabolism; Bone Neoplasms - prevention & control; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Metastasis; Osteoprotegerin (OPG); Osteoprotegerin - antagonists & inhibitors; Osteoprotegerin - metabolism; Prognosis; RANK Ligand - antagonists & inhibitors; RANK Ligand - metabolism; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B - metabolism; Receptor activator of nuclear factor-кβ (RANK) cancer; Receptor activator of nuclear factor-кβ ligand (RANKL); Signal Transduction - drug effects; Clinical trials; Receptor activator of nuclear factor-кβ (RANK) cancer; Receptor activator of nuclear factor-кβ ligand (RANKL); Osteoprotegerin (OPG); Bone disease; Metastasis
• ISSN: 1556-0864; 1556-1380
• DOI: 10.1097/JTO.0b013e318229421f

Bone metastases play an important role in the morbidity and mortality of patients with malignant disease. Despite therapeutic advances in the treatment of solid organ malignancy such as lung cancer, less development on metastasis interventions has been forthcoming. More recent research has focused on molecular pathway manipulation in the prevention and treatment of metastatic bone disease and associated complications such as bone pain and hypercalcemia. The osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor-кβ ligand/receptor activator of nuclear factor-кβ pathway, which is physiologically involved in bone turnover, has been of considerable interest, and recent promising data have been revealed. In this study, we describe this molecular pathway in terms of its natural physiological function, manipulation for therapeutic benefit, and recent clinical trial results.