New antibody therapeutics targeting connexin hemichannels in treatment of osteosarcoma and breast cancer bone metastasis

Abstract

Background: The growth and migration of tumor cells is largely influenced by their microenvironment, and bone is the primary site for osteosarcoma and a preferred site for cancer metastasis. Connexin 43 (Cx43) hemichannels are highly expressed in osteocytes, the most abundant bone cell type, and have been shown to permit small molecules, such as ATP, to be released into the extracellular environment.