Molecular mechanisms of osteosarcoma metastasis and possible treatment opportunities

Xinhui Du; Hua Wei; Boya Zhang; Bangmin Wang; Zhehuang Li; Lon Kai Pang; Ruiying Zhao; Weitao Yao

doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1117867

Molecular mechanisms of osteosarcoma metastasis and possible treatment opportunities

Front Oncol. 2023 May 1:13:1117867. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1117867. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Xinhui Du^{1

2

3}, Hua Wei⁴, Boya Zhang^{1

2

3}, Bangmin Wang^{1

2

3}, Zhehuang Li^{1

2

3}, Lon Kai Pang⁵, Ruiying Zhao⁶, Weitao Yao^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Bone Soft Tissue Department, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
² Key Laboratory for Digital Assessment of Spinal-Pelvic Tumor and Surgical Aid Tools Design (Zhengzhou), Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
³ Key Laboratory for Perioperative Digital Assessment of Bone Tumors (Henan), Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
⁴ Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
⁵ Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.
⁶ Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.

Abstract

In osteosarcoma patients, metastasis of the primary cancer is the leading cause of death. At present, management options to prevent metastasis are limited and non-curative. In this study, we review the current state of knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of metastasis and discuss promising new therapies to combat osteosarcoma metastasis. Genomic and epigenomic changes, metabolic reprogramming, transcription factors, dysregulation of physiologic pathways, and alterations to the tumor microenvironment are some of the changes reportedly involved in the regulation of osteosarcoma metastasis. Key factors within the tumor microenvironment include infiltrating lymphocytes, macrophages, cancer-associated fibroblasts, platelets, and extracellular components such as vesicles, proteins, and other secreted molecules. We conclude by discussing potential osteosarcoma-limiting agents and their clinical studies.

Keywords: mechanism; metastasis; osteosarcoma; reprogramming; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This study was jointly supported by the grants of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82102258), the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province (Grant No. 212300410252), the Henan Provincial Medical Science and Technology Research Project (Grant Nos. LHGJ20190217 and LHGJ20220194), and the Key Technologies R & D Program of Henan Province (Grant No. 212102310617).