Primary Bone Tumors and Breast Cancer-Induced Bone Metastases: In Vivo Animal Models and New Alternative Approaches.

Bone is the preferential site of metastasis for the most common tumors, including breast cancer. On the other hand, osteosarcoma is the primary bone cancer that most commonly occurs and causes bone cancer-related deaths in children. Several treatment strategies have been developed so far, with little or no efficacy for patient survival and with the development of side effects.

Effects of osteoblast-derived extracellular vesicles on aggressiveness, redox status and mitochondrial bioenergetics of MNNG/HOS osteosarcoma cells.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy. The crosstalk between osteosarcoma and the surrounding tumour microenvironment (TME) drives key events that lead to metastasization, one of the main obstacles for definitive cure of most malignancies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), lipid bilayer nanoparticles used by cells for intercellular communication, are emerging as critical biological mediators that permit the interplay between neoplasms and the tumour microenvironment, modulating re-wiring of energy metabolism and redox homeostatic processes.

Liquid biopsies in primary and secondary bone cancers.

Liquid biopsies are a powerful tool to non-invasively analyze tumor phenotype and progression as well as drug resistance. In the bone oncology field, liquid biopsies would be particularly important to develop, since standard biopsies can be very painful, dangerous (e.g.

Lipocalin 2 Influences Bone and Muscle Phenotype in the Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is an adipokine involved in bone and energy metabolism. Its serum levels correlate with bone mechanical unloading and inflammation, two conditions representing hallmarks of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Therefore, we investigated the role of Lcn2 in bone loss induced by muscle failure in the mouse model of DMD.

Anti-osteoblastogenic, pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effect of extracellular vesicles isolated from the human osteosarcoma cell line MNNG/HOS.

Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly recognized as integral signaling vehicles in several types of cancers, including bone malignancies. However, the specific mechanisms by which EVs influence osteosarcoma progression have not been fully determined. We evaluated the effects of EVs derived from the human osteosarcoma cell line MNNG/HOS (MNNG/HOS-EVs) on bone resident cells.

Lipocalin 2 increases after high-intensity exercise in humans and influences muscle gene expression and differentiation in mice.

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is an adipokine that accomplishes several functions in diverse organs. However, its importance in muscle and physical exercise is currently unknown. We observed that following acute high-intensity exercise ("Gran Sasso d'Italia" vertical run), LCN2 serum levels were increased.

Extracellular Vesicles From Osteotropic Breast Cancer Cells Affect Bone Resident Cells.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as mediators of a range of pathological processes, including cancer. However, their role in bone metastases has been poorly explored. We investigated EV-mediated effects of osteotropic breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) on bone resident cells and endothelial cells.

Extra-skeletal manifestations in mice affected by -dependent autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type 2 clinical and therapeutic implications.

Autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type 2 (ADO2) is a high-density brittle bone disease characterized by bone pain, multiple fractures and skeletal-related events, including nerve compression syndrome and hematological failure. We demonstrated that in mice carrying the heterozygous mutation, whose human mutant homolog affects patients, the clinical impacts of ADO2 extend beyond the skeleton, affecting several other organs. The hallmark of the extra-skeletal alterations is a consistent perivascular fibrosis, associated with high numbers of macrophages and lymphoid infiltrates.