15-Deoxy-Δ(12,14)-Prostaglandin J(2) Inhibits Osteolytic Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis and Estrogen Deficiency-Induced Bone Loss

Breast cancer is the major cause of cancer death in women worldwide. The most common site of metastasis is bone. Bone metastases obstruct the normal bone remodeling process and aberrantly enhance osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, which results in osteolytic lesions. 15-deoxy-Δ(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) is an endogenous ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) that has anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity at micromolar concentrations through PPARγ-dependent and/or PPARγ-independent pathways. We investigated the inhibitory activity of 15d-PGJ(2) on the bone loss that is associated with breast cancer bone metastasis and estrogen deficiency caused by cancer treatment. 15d-PGJ(2) dose-dependently inhibited viability, migration, invasion, and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) production in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. 15d-PGJ(2) suppressed receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) mRNA levels and normalized osteoprotegerin (OPG) mRNA levels in hFOB1.19 osteoblastic cells treated with culture medium from MDA-MB-231 cells or PTHrP, which decreased the RANKL/OPG ratio. 15d-PGJ(2) blocked RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and inhibited the formation of resorption pits by decreasing the activities of cathepsin K and matrix metalloproteinases, which are secreted by mature osteoclasts. 15d-PGJ(2) exerted its effects on breast cancer and bone cells via PPARγ-independent pathways. In Balb/c nu/nu mice that received an intracardiac injection of MDA-MB-231 cells, subcutaneously injected 15d-PGJ(2) substantially decreased metastatic progression, cancer cell-mediated bone destruction in femora, tibiae, and mandibles, and serum PTHrP levels. 15d-PGJ(2) prevented the destruction of femoral trabecular structures in estrogen-deprived ICR mice as measured by bone morphometric parameters and serum biochemical data. Therefore, 15d-PGJ(2) may be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer-associated bone diseases.