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Updated: May 8, 2026
A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
Bone microenvironment-targeted manipulations for the treatment of osteoblastic metastasis in castration-resistant
Pavlos Msaouel1, Gayathri Nandikolla, Spyros G Pneumaticos
1Jacobi Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx, NY , USA.
Introduction:
Most patients with advanced prostate cancer will develop incurable bone metastasis. Although prostate cancer is the quintessential androgen-dependent neoplastic disease in males, the tumor will ultimately become refractory to androgen ablation treatment. Understanding the complex dialog between prostate cancer and the bone microenvironment has allowed the development of promising treatment strategies.
Areas Covered:
The present review summarizes the pathophysiology of prostate cancer bone metastasis and provides a concise update on bone microenvironment-targeted therapies for prostate cancer. The current and future prospects and challenges of these strategies are also discussed.
Expert Opinion:
A wide variety of signaling pathways, bone turnover homeostatic mechanisms and immunoregulatory networks are potential targets for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Anti-survival factor therapy can enhance the efficacy of existing treatment regimens for mCRPC by exploiting the interaction between the bone microenvironment and androgen signaling networks. In addition, many novel bone microenvironment-targeted strategies have produced promising objective clinical responses. Further elucidation of the complex interactions between prostate cancer cells and the bone stroma will open up new avenues for treatment interventions that can produce sustained cancer suppression.
Insights
Prostate cancer bone metastasis is common and becomes resistant to treatment. Targeting the bone microenvironment offers new strategies to suppress cancer growth and improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Metastasis
- Bone Biology
Background:
- Advanced prostate cancer frequently metastasizes to bone, becoming incurable.
- Prostate cancer initially depends on androgens but eventually becomes castration-resistant.
- The bone microenvironment plays a critical role in prostate cancer progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pathophysiology of prostate cancer bone metastasis.
- To update on therapies targeting the bone microenvironment in prostate cancer.
- To discuss prospects and challenges of these bone-targeted strategies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of prostate cancer bone metastasis.
- Summary of bone microenvironment-targeted therapies.
- Analysis of current and future treatment prospects.
Main Results:
- Multiple signaling pathways in bone are potential therapeutic targets.
- Targeting bone turnover and immune networks shows promise.
- Novel bone-targeted strategies yield promising clinical responses.
Conclusions:
- Bone microenvironment interactions are key targets for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
- Anti-survival factor therapy enhances mCRPC treatment by leveraging bone-androgen signaling.
- Further research into prostate cancer-bone stroma interactions will reveal new suppression strategies.
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