Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0026764 (multiple myeloma)
36,148 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Bone is a frequent site of cancer metastasis. Bone metastases can result in bone destruction or new bone formation. Bone destruction is mediated by factors produced or induced by tumor cells that stimulate formation and activation of osteoclasts, the normal bone-resorbing cells. Local bone destruction also occurs in patients with osteoblastic metastases and may precede or occur simultaneously with increased bone formation. Several factors, including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, receptor activator of NF-kappaB (RANK) ligand, parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1-alpha (MIP-1alpha), have been implicated as factors that enhance osteoclast formation and bone destruction in patients with neoplasia. PTHrP seems to be the major factor produced by breast cancer cells that induces osteoclast formation through upregulation of RANK ligand. Enhanced RANK ligand expression also plays an important role in bone destruction in patients with myeloma. RANK ligand can act to enhance the effects of other factors produced by myeloma cells or in response to myeloma cells, such as MIP-1alpha and/or IL-6, to induce osteoclast formation. Understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for osteoclast activation in osteolytic metastases should lead to development of novel therapeutic approaches for this highly morbid and potentially fatal complication of cancer.
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PMID:Biology of osteoclast activation in cancer. 1177 96

Bone destruction is a hallmark of myeloma, with 70% to 80% of patients manifesting bone involvement. Destruction is mediated through normal osteoclasts (OCLs), which respond to local osteoclast-activating factors (OAFs) produced by myeloma cells or by other cells in the local microenvironment. OAFs implicated in myeloma bone disease include tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNFbeta), RANK ligand (RANKL), interleukin-1 (IL-1), parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), hepatocyte growth factor (HGH), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1-alpha (MIP-1alpha). To date, the leading candidates for OAFs are MIP-1alpha and RANKL. Adhesive interactions between marrow stromal cells and myeloma cells induce marrow stromal cells to secrete IL-6, a potent myeloma growth/survival factor that may contribute to the bone disease. Evaluation of myeloma bone disease includes plain radiographs, and newer methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) scans, technetium-99m-sestamibi (Mibi) scanning, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning, may provide more complete information. In addition, biochemical markers of bone resorption are being evaluated, although the limited availability of these assays and lack of extensive testing in patients make their routine use premature. Treatment of myeloma bone disease includes radiation therapy, vertebroplasty, surgery, and bisphosphonates. New developments on the pathogenesis and treatment of myeloma bone disease present great opportunities to combat bone disease.
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PMID:Myeloma bone disease. 1148 16