Targeting the Wnt signaling pathway for breast cancer bone metastasis therapy

J Mol Med (Berl). 2022 Mar;100(3):373-384. doi: 10.1007/s00109-021-02159-y. Epub 2021 Nov 25.

Abstract

Osteolytic bone destruction is found in approximately 60% of advanced breast cancer patients. With the pathogenesis of bone metastasis being unclear, traditional antiresorptive therapeutic strategies might not be ideal for treatment. The Wnt pathway is a highly organized cascade involved in multiple stages of cancer bone metastasis, and Wnt-targeted therapeutic strategies have shown promise in achieving favorable outcomes. In this review, we summarize the current progress of pharmacological Wnt modulators against breast cancer bone metastasis, discuss emerging therapeutic strategies based on Wnt pathway-related targets for bone therapy, and highlight opportunities to better harness the Wnt pathway for bone metastasis therapeutics to further reveal the implications of the Wnt pathway in bone metastasis pathology and provide new ideas for the development of Wnt-based intervention strategies against breast cancer bone metastasis.

Keywords: Bone homeostasis; Bone pathology; Bone therapeutics; Breast cancer bone metastasis; Wnt pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bone Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Bone Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Osteolysis*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway