Research progress on roles of Eph/Ephrin signaling pathway in primary bone tumor and bone cancer pain

Erythropoietin producing hepatocyte kinase (Eph) receptor and its ligand Ephrin play important roles in axon guidance, migration of neural progenitor cells and angiogenesis. The abnormal expressions of Eph and Ephrin are closely related to the occurrence, development, metastasis, prognosis and drug resistance of many tumors, and involve in many physiological and pathological processes, but the current research is still limited.This study mainly reviewed the roles of Eph and Ephrin in bone cancer pain (BCP) caused by primary and metastatic bone tumors.