A Perfusion Bioreactor Model of Tumor-Induced Bone Disease Using Human Cells.

Advanced solid tumors often metastasize to bone. Once established in bone, these tumors can induce bone destruction resulting in decreased quality of life and increased mortality. Neither 2D in vitro models nor 3D animal models sufficiently recapitulate the human bone-tumor microenvironment needed to fully understand the complexities of bone metastasis, highlighting the need for new models.

Biphasic α2β1 Integrin Expression in Breast Cancer Metastasis to Bone.

Integrins participate in the pathogenesis and progression of tumors at many stages during the metastatic cascade. However, current evidence for the role of integrins in breast cancer progression is contradictory and seems to be dependent on tumor stage, differentiation status, and microenvironmental influences. While some studies suggest that loss of α2β1 enhances cancer metastasis, other studies suggest that this integrin is pro-tumorigenic.