title: Therapeutic targeting of osteoclast function and pathways.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoclasts are responsible for bone resorption and underlie a number of pathological states in which osteolysis is a feature. Over recent decades our molecular understanding of osteoclast differentiation and activation has expanded significantly, and this has allowed for the development of a number of osteoclast-targeted therapies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review seeks to present the underlying molecular mechanisms of osteoclast differentiation and activity as a basis for understanding our current treatment of osteoporosis and malignant tumors in bone. Osteoclast-targeted therapies are also being evaluated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteosarcoma and giant cell tumor of bone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With concurrent advances in the fields of molecular biology, pathology and advanced imaging, osteoclast-targeted therapies show great potential for treating conditions in which excess resorption of bone is a key pathological process. Targeting of osteoclast control mechanisms offers the potential of combining 'molecular imaging' with therapeutic intervention and longitudinal monitoring of disease processes.
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent's Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics and University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery, L3, Daly Wing, 35 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy 3065, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Broadhead
authors.forename: Jonathan C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Crispin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Dass
authors.forename: Peter F M
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Choong
authors.forename: Damian E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary; D001862:Bone Resorption; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D053245:RANK Ligand; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor