Close investigation confirmed the identity of large, multinucleated TRAP-positive osteoclasts, typically located under a layer of osteoblastic cells (supplemental Fig
Close investigation confirmed the identity of large, multinucleated TRAP-positive osteoclasts, typically located under a layer of osteoblastic cells (supplemental Fig. to breast cancer-derived factors stimulated the subsequent attachment of cancer cells to immature osteoblasts. Inhibition of -secretase using pharmacological inhibitors DAPT and Compound E completely reversed cancer-induced osteoclastogenesis as well as cancer-induced enhancement of cancer cell attachment, identifying -secretase activity as a key mediator of these effects. Thus, we have uncovered osteoblasts as crucial intermediary of premetastatic signaling by breast cancer cells and pinpointed -secretase as a robust target for developing therapeutics potentially capable of reducing both homing and progression of cancer metastases to bone. Keywords:Bone, Breast Cancer, Cell Differentiation, Cell-Cell Interaction, Notch Pathway, Bone Metastases, -Secretase, Osteoblast, Osteoclast, Premetastatic Niche == Introduction MA242 == Bone is one of the…