title: Sclerostin: a possible target for the management of cancer-induced bone disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sclerostin is a cysteine-knot-containing protein, which is produced by osteocytes and inhibits osteoblast function. The aim of this review is to summarize the data about the role of sclerostin in cancer-induced bone disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a thorough search for articles in the PubMed using the words "sclerostin, cancer, multiple myeloma", and for similar abstracts that were presented in the ASH and ASCO annual meetings (2005 - 2011). In multiple myeloma, sclerostin is produced by myeloma cells and elevated in the serum or the plasma of the patients, and correlates with extensive bone disease and adverse myeloma features. In prostate cancer, sclerostin expression is reduced and in combination with bone morhogenetic protein-6 and noggin expression may serve as prognostic predictor for metastatic progression. In breast cancer, in vitro data suggest that the malignant cell induces the expression of sclerostin to inhibit osteoblasts in the metastatic bone area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sclerostin may play a role in inhibiting bone formation in the biology of bone metastases in breast cancer and of myeloma-related bone disease. The results of phase I/II studies with anti-sclerostin drugs in subjects with low bone mass may lead to the potential clinical investigation of these agents in cancer-induced bone disease.
authors: University of Athens School of Medicine, Alexandra General Hospital, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, 80 Vas. Sofias Avenue, 11528, Athens, Greece.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Gkotzamanidou
authors: Meletios A
authors: MA
authors: Dimopoulos
authors: Efstathios
authors: E
authors: Kastritis
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Christoulas
authors: Lia A
authors: LA
authors: Moulopoulos
authors: Evangelos
authors: E
authors: Terpos
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; C422903:SOST protein, human