Abstract
Advanced cancers of the prostate and breast commonly progress by metastasizing to the skeleton, where they are incurable but cause serious morbidity and contribute to mortality. Growth of tumor in bone takes several years, opening a large window for pharmaceutical prevention of metastatic progression. Bone provides a unique microenvironment for tumor growth, including niches occupied by hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells. Recent data suggest that circulating tumor cells usurp these niches and compete with the normal stem cell occupants. Agents that encourage normal hematopoiesis or bone formation could inhibit colonization of bone by tumor stem cells and prevent or delay metastatic progression. It may be possible to develop high-throughput assays to test compounds for their ability to suppress tumor stem cell occupation of skeletal niches, thus decreasing metastatic progression in at-risk patients.
Keywords: Bone metastases, Stem cell niche, Hematopoietic niche, Endosteal niche, Mesenchymal cell niche, Prostate cancer, Breast cancer, Anti-resorptive agents, Bone-anabolic agents, SKELETON
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: The Stem Cell Niche as a Pharmaceutical Target for Prevention of Skeletal Metastases
Volume: 12 Issue: 3
Author(s): John M. Chirgwin
Affiliation:
Keywords: Bone metastases, Stem cell niche, Hematopoietic niche, Endosteal niche, Mesenchymal cell niche, Prostate cancer, Breast cancer, Anti-resorptive agents, Bone-anabolic agents, SKELETON
Abstract: Advanced cancers of the prostate and breast commonly progress by metastasizing to the skeleton, where they are incurable but cause serious morbidity and contribute to mortality. Growth of tumor in bone takes several years, opening a large window for pharmaceutical prevention of metastatic progression. Bone provides a unique microenvironment for tumor growth, including niches occupied by hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells. Recent data suggest that circulating tumor cells usurp these niches and compete with the normal stem cell occupants. Agents that encourage normal hematopoiesis or bone formation could inhibit colonization of bone by tumor stem cells and prevent or delay metastatic progression. It may be possible to develop high-throughput assays to test compounds for their ability to suppress tumor stem cell occupation of skeletal niches, thus decreasing metastatic progression in at-risk patients.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
M. Chirgwin John, The Stem Cell Niche as a Pharmaceutical Target for Prevention of Skeletal Metastases, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2012; 12 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152012800228797
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152012800228797 |
Print ISSN 1871-5206 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5992 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Induction of cell death in cancer cells by modulating telomerase activity using small molecule drugs
Telomeres are distinctive but short stretches present at the corners of chromosomes and aid in stabilizing chromosomal makeup. Resynthesis of telomeres supported by the activity of reverse transcriptase ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase. There is no any telomerase activity in human somatic cells, but the stem cells and germ cells undergone telomerase ...read more
Role of natural compounds as anti anti-cancer agents
Cancer is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy remains an important approach in treatment o f several types of cancers, even though ...read more
Signaling and enzymatic modulators in cancer treatment
Cancer accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022 and is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are the most important approach for the treatment of several ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Lipids in Cancer
Current Organic Chemistry Noble metal-dithiocarbamates precious allies in the fight against cancer
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Targeted Radionuclide Therapy of Painful Bone Metastases: Past Developments, Current Status, Recent Advances and Future Directions
Current Medicinal Chemistry Inhibiting Cyclin-Dependent Kinase / Cyclin Activity for the Treatment of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Synergistic Effect of α-Solanine and Cisplatin Induces Apoptosis and Enhances Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR): A Novel Target for Cancer Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Signal Transduction Therapy Targeting Apoptosis Pathways in Cancers
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Polymers Based on Phenyl Boric Acid in Tumor-Targeted Therapy
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Stilbenes and Xanthones from Medicinal Plants as Potential Antitumor Agents
Current Bioactive Compounds The Functional Role of Long Non-coding RNA UCA1 in Human Multiple Cancers: a Review Study
Current Molecular Medicine Therapeutic Use of MicroRNAs in Cancer
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Beta-Caryophyllene Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Proliferation by Inducing Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Transcriptionally Targeted Adenovirus Vectors
Current Gene Therapy Repurposing of Anticancer Drugs for the Treatment of Bacterial Infections
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Utilization of Enzyme Inhibitors in Study of Mechanism Underlying apoA-I-mediated HDL Generation in Rat Brain Astrocytes
Current Enzyme Inhibition Identification of Novel Prognostic Biomarkers in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma using Bioinformatics Analysis
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Patents in Cancer Stem Cells
Recent Patents on Biomarkers Editorial [Hot Topic Ion Fluxes and Cancer (Guest Editors: Luca Munaron and Annarosa Arcangeli)]
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery New Potential Pharmaceutical Applications of Hypericum Species
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Prediction and Early Evaluation of Anticancer Therapy Response: From Imaging of Drug Efflux Pumps to Targeted Therapy Response
Current Medicinal Chemistry