Facilitating role of preprotachykinin-I gene in the integration of breast cancer cells within the stromal compartment of the bone marrow: a model of early cancer progression.

Despite early detection of breast cancer, patients' survival may be compromised if the breast cancer cells (BCCs) enter the bone marrow (BM). It is highly probable that BCCs enter the BM long before clinical detection. An in vitro coculture model with BM stroma and BCCs (cell lines; primary cells from stage III BC, n = 7, and stage M0, n = 3) mimicked early entry of BCCs into the BM.