Hedgehog-targeted therapeutics uncouple the vicious cycle of bone metastasis

Oncoimmunology. 2012 Nov 1;1(8):1411-1413. doi: 10.4161/onci.21060.

Abstract

Paracrine Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, in which tumor-derived Hh ligands activate stromal cells, has been implicated in the development and progression of many cancers. Recent data suggest that Hh-targeted therapeutics exert direct effects on host cells, thus interrupting a "vicious cycle" to bone metastasis that involves osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and tumor cells.