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Sclerostin: an Emerging Target for the Treatment of Cancer-Induced Bone Disease

Current Osteoporosis Reports volume 15, pages 532–541 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review provides a summary of the current knowledge on Sost/sclerostin in cancers targeting the bone, discusses novel observations regarding its potential as a therapeutic approach to treat cancer-induced bone loss, and proposes future research needed to fully understand the potential of therapeutic approaches that modulate sclerostin function.

Recent Findings

Accumulating evidence shows that sclerostin expression is dysregulated in a number of cancers that target the bone. Further, new findings demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of sclerostin in preclinical models of multiple myeloma results in a robust prevention of bone loss and preservation of bone strength, without apparent effects on tumor growth. These data raise the possibility of targeting sclerostin for the treatment of cancer patients with bone metastasis.

Summary

Sclerostin is emerging as a valuable target to prevent the bone destruction that accompanies the growth of cancer cells in the bone. Further studies will focus on combining anti-sclerostin therapy with tumor-targeted agents to achieve both beneficial skeletal outcomes and inhibition of tumor progression.

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Funding

Michelle McDonald is supported by The Kay Stubbs Cancer Research Grant, Cancer Council NSW. J.D.C. work was supported by the International Bone and Mineral Society Gideon and Sevgi Rodan Fellowship, the American Society of Hematology Scholar Award, and the International Myeloma Foundation Brian D. Novis Junior Research Grant.

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Affiliations

  1. The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia

    Michelle M. McDonald

  2. St. Vincent’s School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Michelle M. McDonald

  3. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Jesus Delgado-Calle

  4. Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Jesus Delgado-Calle

  5. Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Jesus Delgado-Calle

Authors
  1. Michelle M. McDonald
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  2. Jesus Delgado-Calle
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Correspondence to Jesus Delgado-Calle.

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Conflict of Interest

Michelle McDonald reports grants paid to her institution from the Cancer Council NSW. Jesus Delgado-Calle reports grants from PharmaMar.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article includes studies with mice performed by the author. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This article does not include any studies with humans performed by the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cancer-induced Musculoskeletal Diseases

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McDonald, M.M., Delgado-Calle, J. Sclerostin: an Emerging Target for the Treatment of Cancer-Induced Bone Disease. Curr Osteoporos Rep 15, 532–541 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-017-0403-y

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Keywords

  • Sost/sclerostin
  • Cancer
  • Bone
  • Myeloma
  • Osteoblasts
  • Osteoclasts