title: Influence of sex differences on the progression of cancer-induced bone pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain caused by bone metastases has a severe impact on the quality of life for many patients with cancer. Good translational in vivo models are required to understand the molecular mechanism and develop better treatment. In the current study we evaluated the influence of sex differences on the progression of cancer-induced bone pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  4T1-luc2 mammary cancer cells were introduced into the femoral cavity of female and male BALB/cJ mice. Bioluminescence tumor signal, pain-related behavior and bone degradation were monitored for 14 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female mice demonstrated a significantly greater bioluminescence signal on day 2 compared to male mice and, in addition, a significant earlier onset of pain-related behavior was observed in the females. No sex difference was observed for bone degradation. Finally, a strong correlation between pain-related behavior and bone degradation was observed for both sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although differences were observed between the sexes, these were minor and did not affect the overall progression of the pain state.
authors: Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Falk
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Uldall
authors: Camilla
authors: C
authors: Appel
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Ding
authors: Anne-Marie
authors: AM
authors: Heegaard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
keywords: Cancer-induced bone pain; bone metastasis; pain; sex differences