Molecular pathogenesis of bone metastases in breast cancer: Proven and emerging therapeutic targets

Figure 3 Potential pro-metastatic role of hypoxia in bone. Hypoxia stimulates targeting of cancer cells to bone and facilitates their survival within the bone microenvironment. The presence of a hypoxic environment, further sustained by cancer growth, induces the secretion of hypoxia-inducible factors by cancer cells. These factors, in conjunction with parallel acidification of the microenvironment, are associated with osteoclastogenesis. TGF-β: Transforming growth factor-β.