Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX.
Prostate cancer is a complex disease in which metastasis to the bone is the main cause of death. Initial stages of metastasis are generally similar to those for most solid tumors; however, the mechanisms that underlie the homing of prostate tumor cells to the bone remain incompletely understood. Prostate cancer bone metastasis is also a microenvironment-driven disease, involving bi-directional interactions between the tumor and the bone microenvironment. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the biologic processes and regulatory factors involved in the metastasis of prostate cancer cells, and their specific properties that promote growth in bone. Although many of these processes still need to be fully elucidated, a better understanding of the complex tumor/microenvironment interplay is slowly leading to more effective therapies for patients with prostate cancer bone metastases.
Written by:
Jin JK, Dayyani F, Gallick GE.
Are you the author?
Reference: Int J Cancer. 2011 Mar 1. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1002/ijc.26024
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21365645
UroToday.com Prostate Cancer Section