Abstract
, reversed this phenotype. Administration of recombinant BMP4 markedly reduced spontaneous metastasis to lung and bone. Elevated levels of BMP4 and SMAD7 were prognostic for improved recurrence-free survival and overall survival in patients with breast cancer, indicating the importance of canonical BMP4 signaling in the suppression of metastasis and highlighting new avenues for therapy against metastatic disease. SIGNIFICANCE: Targeting the BMP4-SMAD7 signaling axis presents a novel therapeutic strategy to combat metastatic breast cancer, a disease that has had no reduction in patient mortality over 20 years. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/80/6/1304/F1.large.jpg.