# Therapeutic targeting of STING-IL6/STAT3 axis to inhibit osteoclastic niche formation and breast cancer bone metastasis

## TL;DR

This study shows that targeting the STING-IL6/STAT3 pathway can help prevent breast cancer from spreading to bones by disrupting the formation of a supportive niche for cancer cells.

## Contribution

The study identifies the STING-IL6/STAT3 axis as a novel therapeutic target for breast cancer bone metastasis.

## Key findings

- OPN formation promotes breast cancer bone metastasis by linking osteoclast activity and tumor proliferation.
- STING modulation disrupts the metastatic process but relies on IL-6/STAT3 signaling.
- IL-6 activation reduces the effectiveness of STING-based therapies.

## Abstract

Despite numerous studies on tumor bone metastasis, little emphasis has been placed on the role of the formation of the osteoclastic premetastatic niche (OPN), and related genetic intervention targets are relatively scarce. Our data confirm the promoting effect of OPN formation on bone metastasis and demonstrate the existence of a vicious cycle between osteoclast differentiation and breast tumor cell proliferation through in vitro cell experiments. Moreover, we show that regulating Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) can break this cycle. However, both in vivo and in vitro experiments further indicate that STING intervention in OPN formation and breast tumor bone metastasis depends on IL6/STAT3, with a significant discount in the presence of IL-6 activation. In summary, these data not only highlight the important role of OPN but also emphasize STING-IL6/STAT3 as a crucial intervention target.

OPN formation drives breast cancer bone metastasis by linking osteoclast activity and tumor proliferation.STING modulation disrupts this process but is dependent on IL-6/STAT3 signaling.IL-6 activation significantly diminishes STING’s therapeutic potential.The STING-IL6/STAT3 axis emerges as a critical target for breast cancer bone metastasis interventions.

OPN formation drives breast cancer bone metastasis by linking osteoclast activity and tumor proliferation.

STING modulation disrupts this process but is dependent on IL-6/STAT3 signaling.

IL-6 activation significantly diminishes STING’s therapeutic potential.

The STING-IL6/STAT3 axis emerges as a critical target for breast cancer bone metastasis interventions.