title: The development and function of the skeleton and bone metastases.
abstract: Bone is a frequent site of metastases of the most common tumors, e.g., breast carcinoma and prostate carcinoma. The functions of the skeleton, calcium homeostasis and mechanical support, are carried out by the continuous destruction and rebuilding of small packets of this tissue called bone remodeling. Multinucleated, hemopoietically derived osteoclasts, which are related to macrophages, digest the bone, and mesenchymal-derived osteoblasts rebuild it. This process is kept in balance by finely regulated processes whereby osteoblast lineage cells respond to homeostatic signals and release factors that regulate osteoclast generation and activity. Cells that participate in inflammation and immunity also can stimulate osteoclast formation and lead to bone destruction. Tumor cells most likely subvert these physiologic processes to lodge in bone and cause metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bone Biology and Osteoporosis, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA. rodan@merck.com
authors.forename: Gideon A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rodan
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone