Hedgehog-targeted therapeutics uncouple the vicious cycle of bone metastasis

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. © 2012 Landes Bioscience.