Molecular mechanisms of osteotropic cancer metastasis (literature review)

Abstract

Bone is a frequent site of metastasis for a wide range of cancer types. The most common cancers that often spread to bone are prostate cancer, breast cancer and renal cell carcinoma. In this regard, the preferential bone localization of tumor cells is determined by their molecular features and attraction by bone microenvironment. Metastatic niche growth destroys the bone, and as a result, patients are suffering from symptoms also known as skeletal-related events: severe pain, fractures, progressive hypercalcemia, resulting in high rates of cancer-dependent complications. Lack in effective guidelines and management procedures in metastatic cancer therapy highlights the issues of molecular mechanism investigation. Here, we discuss about bone microenvironment and how it impacts to tumor growth, cancer progression and dormancy.