Animal models for breast cancer metastasis to bone: opportunities and limitations

Skeletal metastases occur frequently in patients with breast cancer and are associated with significant morbidity and poor survival. Numerous animal models have been developed to investigate the biology of bone metastases and effective preventative or therapeutic approaches. However, no single animal model recapitulates the complexity of the metastatic process in toto. Therefore, selection of the animal model most appropriate for the question under investigation is crucial for the validity of the experimental outcome. This review provides an overview of the currently available animal models for breast cancer metastasis to bone with an emphasis on innovative xenograft models and imaging technologies.