Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2007;23(3):1-171

Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis: Interaction Between Tumor Cells and Bone Microenvironment

Yi LU ; Zhi YAO ; Jian ZHANG

Keywords

cytokines; chemokines; chemokine receptors; cancer; bone metastasis

Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

Cancer metastasis is composed of a complex cascade that involves a variety of critical steps beginning with detachment from the primary tumor and ending with growth of tumor at a distant site, such as bone. The "seed-and-soil hypothesis" predicts that the bone microenvironment expresses factors through which attract a variety of cancer cells and promote the tumor development. The ending point of tumor development in bone is achieved through the bidirectional and dynamic interaction between tumor cells and the cells in their growth microenvironment. A variety of factors produced by the bone microenvironment, contribute to the pathogenesis of cancer skeletal metastasis. In this review, using prostate cancer (CaP) as an example, some of general mechanisms of cancer metastasis will be summarized. In addition, the current understanding of the interaction between tumor cells and the bone microenvironment will be addressed. Finally, the research directions in the near future will be suggested.