title: Bone morphogenetic protein signaling in musculoskeletal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of proteins; they were initially named after their ability to induce ectopic bone formation. Published studies have proved BMPs' role in a variety of biological processes such as embryogenesis and patterning of body axes, and maintaining adult tissue homeostasis. Other studies have focused on BMPs properties, functions and possible involvement in skeletal diseases, including cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search mainly paying attention to the role of BMPs in musculoskeletal tumors was performed in electronic databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This article discusses BMPs synthesis and signaling, and summarizes their prominent roles in the skeletal system for the differentiation of osteoblasts, osteocytes and chondrocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The review emphasizes on the role of BMP signaling in the initiation and progression of musculoskeletal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research and Education Center, "Panayotis N. Soucacos", Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Myrto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bami
authors.affiliation: First Department of Orthopaedics, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece. afm@otenet.gr.
authors.forename: Andreas F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Mavrogenis
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, University of Bologna, Via Pupilli, 1, 40136, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research and Education Center, "Panayotis N. Soucacos", Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milonaki
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research and Education Center, "Panayotis N. Soucacos", Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mitsiokapa
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research and Education Center, "Panayotis N. Soucacos", Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stamoulis
authors.affiliation: First Department of Orthopaedics, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panayotis N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Soucacos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: Bone morphogenetic proteins; Bone tumors; Cancer; Musculoskeletal