Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Intra-iliac Artery Injection for Efficient and Selective Modeling of Microscopic Bone Metastasis
07:00

Intra-iliac Artery Injection for Efficient and Selective Modeling of Microscopic Bone Metastasis

Published on: September 26, 2016

Hedgehog-targeted therapeutics uncouple the vicious cycle of bone metastasis

Michelle A Hurchla1, Katherine N Weilbaecher

  • 1Department of Medicine; Division of Oncology; Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO USA.

Oncoimmunology
|December 18, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Paracrine Hedgehog (Hh) signaling drives cancer progression by activating stromal cells. Hh-targeted therapies may disrupt bone metastasis by affecting host cells like osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Metastasis

Background:

  • Paracrine Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, where tumor-derived Hh ligands activate stromal cells, is crucial in cancer development and progression.
  • This signaling pathway plays a role in the complex interactions driving bone metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of paracrine Hedgehog signaling in cancer.
  • To explore the potential of Hh-targeted therapeutics in disrupting cancer progression, particularly bone metastasis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Hh signaling pathways in cancer models.
  • Evaluation of Hh-targeted therapeutics' effects on tumor cells and host cells involved in bone metastasis.

Main Results:

  • Tumor-derived Hh ligands activate stromal cells, promoting cancer progression.
  • Hh-targeted therapeutics demonstrate direct effects on host cells, including osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Conclusions:

  • Paracrine Hh signaling is a key driver in multiple cancers.
  • Hh-targeted therapies offer a potential strategy to interrupt the cycle of bone metastasis by targeting both tumor and host cells.

More Related Videos

Models of Bone Metastasis08:49

Models of Bone Metastasis

Published on: September 4, 2012

Intra-Cardiac Injection of Human Prostate Cancer Cells to Create a Bone Metastasis Xenograft Mouse Model06:32

Intra-Cardiac Injection of Human Prostate Cancer Cells to Create a Bone Metastasis Xenograft Mouse Model

Published on: November 4, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway02:33

Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

The Hedgehog gene (Hh) was first discovered due to its control of the growth of disorganized, hair-like bristles phenotype in Drosophila, much like hedgehog spines. Hh plays a crucial role in the development of organs and the maintenance of homeostasis in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while Drosophila has only one Hh protein, mammals have multiple functional Hedgehog proteins - Sonic (Shh), Desert (Dhh), and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh). All of these homologous proteins have adapted to...
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway02:33

Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

The Hedgehog gene (Hh) was first discovered due to its control of the growth of disorganized, hair-like bristles phenotype in Drosophila, much like hedgehog spines. Hh plays a crucial role in the development of organs and the maintenance of homeostasis in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while Drosophila has only one Hh protein, mammals have multiple functional Hedgehog proteins - Sonic (Shh), Desert (Dhh), and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh). All of these homologous proteins have adapted to...
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...