Ye Lin, Bokobza Sivan M, Jiang Wen G
Metastasis and Angiogenesis Research Group, Department of Surgery, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
Int J Mol Med. 2009 Nov;24(5):591-7. doi: 10.3892/ijmm_00000269.
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to the TGF-beta superfamily, which plays important roles in foetal and postnatal development and also maintains the homeostasis of various tissues and organs. Due to the critical role played by BMPs in bone formation and bone turnover, the implication of these molecules in bone metastasis has been intensively studied over the past decade. BMPs have been implicated in the development and progression of solid tumours, particularly the disease-specific bone metastasis. In breast cancer, a tumour type which most commonly metastasizes to bones, aberrations of both BMP expression and their signalling have been recently demonstrated. These aberrations have certain correlations with the development and progression of the disease. Recent in vitro studies have also demonstrated that BMPs can regulate a range of biological functions of breast cancer cells. Targeting BMPs or BMP signalling may provide novel therapeutic approaches for breast cancer. In the current review, we discuss the present knowledge on BMP abnormalities and their implication in the development and progression of breast cancer, particularly in the disease-specific bone metastasis.
骨形态发生蛋白（BMPs）属于转化生长因子-β（TGF-β）超家族，该超家族在胎儿期和出生后发育中发挥重要作用，还维持着各种组织和器官的内环境稳定。由于BMPs在骨形成和骨转换中起关键作用，在过去十年中，人们对这些分子在骨转移中的作用进行了深入研究。BMPs与实体瘤的发生和发展有关，尤其是特定疾病的骨转移。在最常转移至骨的肿瘤类型乳腺癌中，最近已证实BMP表达及其信号传导均存在异常。这些异常与疾病的发生和发展有一定关联。最近的体外研究还表明，BMPs可调节乳腺癌细胞的一系列生物学功能。靶向BMPs或BMP信号传导可能为乳腺癌提供新的治疗方法。在本综述中，我们讨论了关于BMP异常及其在乳腺癌发生和发展中的作用，特别是在特定疾病的骨转移中的作用的现有知识。
