title: Targeting RANKL in breast cancer: bone metastasis and beyond.
abstract: In breast cancer, RANK ligand (RANKL) appears to play an important role in the process of chemotaxis between circulating tumor cells and the bone microenvironment, which enables RANK-expressing breast cancer cells to migrate into the bone. Mounting clinical evidence has further demonstrated that the anti-RANKL monoclonal antibody; denosumab is the most effective approach in the prevention of skeletal-related events. On the other hand, inhibiting RANKL in preclinical models, not only reduced breast cancer formation but also decreased the development of lung metastases, suggesting RANKL as a novel target for breast cancer chemoprevention. In addition, recent data have pointed to a potential role of RANKL in the biology of breast cancer arising at a young age. Hence, RANKL emerges as a key molecule, not only in the field of breast cancer bone metastasis but also in the biology of breast cancer as a whole.
authors: Department of Clinical Oncology, Cairo University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Hamdy
authors: H
authors: Azim
authors: Hatem A
authors: HA
authors: Azim
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D000069448:Denosumab; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000378:metabolism; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; C505686:TNFRSF11A protein, human; C505688:TNFSF11 protein, human; D000069448:Denosumab