Oncodynamic Changes in Skeleton

When cancers are present in bone, a number of complex changes occur that can alter the physiology and structure of the skeleton. To properly understand these oncodynamic processes—how the bone changes in response to cancer cell invasion—it is necessary to define the types of cells that are present in normal bone, to explore the main physiological functions of these cells and of the bone itself, and to describe the types of cancers that often grow in bone. To properly characterize the functional and anatomical responses of bone cells, a broader definition of what cell types are present in bone is required. Using a more comprehensive and inclusive definition of bone cells, adaptations that result from cancer cell invasion can be categorized on the basis of the signalled functional and structural changes that occur between all involved cells in the bone environment. These pathological responses will be integrated with what is known about the chemical mediators that may be involved. This analysis of the normal signalling environment in bone and the potential interactions between cell types will help to better characterize the complex oncodynamic processes that can occur when cancer invades bone and disrupts this carefully balanced microenvironment.