Bone Resorption and Bone Metastasis Risk

Breast cancer tumors have a tendency to metastasize to the bone. After development of a bone metastasis, the median survival time is 40 months. Currently, little is known about the modifiable risk factors for developing bone metastases in women diagnosed with breast cancer. One possible modifiable risk factor is increased bone resorption. Increased bone resorption is caused by an imbalance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts favoring osteoclast-driven bone resorption. Osteoclast activity results in the release of growth factors from the bony matrix that are requirement for successful breast cancer tumor cell proliferation within the bone.

Source: Medical Hypotheses - June 15, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Katlynn M. Mathis, Kathleen M. Sturgeon, Renate M. Winkels, Joachim Wiskemann, Mary Jane De Souza, Katherine H. Schmitz Source Type: research