Center for Bone Biology

Effect of Tumor Metastasis and Treatment on Bone Quality

Breast cancer and multiple myeloma often cause bone metastases which result in osteolysis and an increase in fracture risk.  While we know that osteolysis removes bone tissue and weakens the bone structure, little is known about whether tumors affect the material properties of the remaining tissue.  Recent evidence has suggested that TGFb signaling affects material properties at the tissue level.  Therefore, targeting TGFb signaling as a means to reduce tumor burden may have additional advantages through an improvement in bone quality.  To test such a notion, we acquire material properties by Raman microspectroscopy and nanoindentation from non-tumor and tumor bearing bones with and without treatment.

Supported by NIH/NCI SPORE in Breast Cancer

Vehicle treatment	TGFB antibody treatment
Treating mice with an antibody to TGFB improves trabecular architecture in the metaphysis of the femur.