Emerging roles of the bone morphogenetic protein pathway in cancer: potential therapeutic target for kinase inhibition

Biochem Soc Trans. 2016 Aug 15;44(4):1117-34. doi: 10.1042/BST20160069.

Abstract

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family signalling pathway. Similar to TGF-β, the complex roles of BMPs in development and disease are demonstrated by their dichotomous roles in various cancers and cancer stages. Although early studies implicated BMP signalling in tumour suppressive phenotypes, the results of more recent experiments recognize BMPs as potent tumour promoters. Many of these complexities are becoming illuminated by understanding the role of BMPs in their contextual role in unique cell types of cancer and the impact of their surrounding tumour microenvironment. Here we review the emerging roles of BMP signalling in cancer, with a focus on the molecular underpinnings of BMP signalling in individual cancers as a valid therapeutic target for cancer prevention and treatment.

Keywords: bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling; cancer; small molecule BMP inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors / metabolism
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / genetics
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / metabolism*
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Tumor Microenvironment*

Substances

  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors