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. 2012 Jun;72(6):502-506.
doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1314943.

Pathophysiology of Bone Remodelling and Current Therapeutic Approaches

I Juhasz-Böss  1 , T Fehm  2 , J T Ney  1 , E F Solomayer  1
Affiliations

Pathophysiology of Bone Remodelling and Current Therapeutic Approaches

I Juhasz-Böss et al. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2012 Jun.

Abstract
in English, German

Different metabolic bone parameters such as RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB), RANK ligand (receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand) and OPG (osteoprotegerin) control physiological bone remodelling. The pathophysiology of these factors in bone diseases and osseous metastases is becoming clearer. In metastatic breast cancer, osteolytic bone metastases are the result of increased osteoclastic activity caused either by increased RANK ligand or decreased OPG expression of metastatic osseous tumour cells. These findings may lead to new therapeutic options for the treatment of breast cancer patients. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of physiological bone remodelling and of the interaction between tumour cells and bone environment. Current therapy approaches and the mechanisms of action of drugs are described.

Das physiologische Knochen-Remodelling unterliegt u. a. der Steuerung durch die Knochenstoffwechselparameter RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB), RANK-Ligand (receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand) und OPG (osteoprotegerin). Auch die pathophysiologische Beteiligung dieser Faktoren bei ossär bedingten Erkrankungen wird zunehmend klarer. Beim Mammakarzinom wird die Entstehung von osteolytischen Knochenmetastasen durch eine gesteigerte Osteoklastenaktivität verursacht, die durch übermäßige direkte RANK-Ligand- oder reduzierte OPG-Expression ossär metastasierter Tumorzellen mitbedingt ist. Diese Erkenntnisse ermöglichen nebst dem Einsatz etablierter Therapieverfahren neue Therapieoptionen in der Behandlung von Mammakarzinompatientinnen. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, einerseits einen Überblick über das physiologische Knochen-Remodelling zu geben. Zudem soll die Wechselwirkung zwischen Tumorzelle und dem Knochenmilieu dargestellt werden. Ferner sollen aktuelle Therapieansätze vorgestellt und Wirkmechanismen der Therapeutika näher erläutert werden.

Keywords: RANK; bone metastases; bone remodelling; bone targeted therapy; breast cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest All co-authors have consented to the publication. J. T. Ney holds a consultancy position at Novartis.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Physiological bone remodelling showing osteoblast-osteoclast interaction through the RANK, RANK ligand, and OPG systems (according to Ney et al. 15).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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