@article{SeilerEbertRudertetal.2022,
  author    = {Seiler, Jonas and Ebert, Regina and Rudert, Maximilian and Herrmann, Marietta and Leich, Ellen and Weißenberger, Manuela and Horas, Konstantin},
  title     = {Bone metastases of diverse primary origin frequently express the VDR (vitamin D receptor) and CYP24A1},
  series = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
  number    = {21},
  issn      = {2077-0383},
  doi       = {10.3390/jcm11216537},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-297377},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Active vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3) is known to exert direct anti-cancer actions on various malignant tissues through binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR). These effects have been demonstrated in breast, prostate, renal and thyroid cancers, which all have a high propensity to metastasise to bone. In addition, there is evidence that vitamin D catabolism via 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1) is altered in tumour cells, thus, reducing local active vitamin D levels in cancer cells. The aim of this study was to assess VDR and CYP24A1 expression in various types of bone metastases by using immunohistochemistry. Overall, a high total VDR protein expression was detected in 59\% of cases (39/66). There was a non-significant trend of high-grade tumours towards the low nuclear VDR expression (p = 0.07). Notably, patients with further distant metastases had a reduced nuclear VDR expression (p = 0.03). Furthermore, a high CYP24A1 expression was detected in 59\% (39/66) of bone metastases. There was a significant positive correlation between nuclear VDR and CYP24A1 expression (p = 0.001). Collectively, the VDR and CYP24A1 were widely expressed in a multitude of bone metastases, pointing to a potential role of vitamin D signalling in cancer progression. This is of high clinical relevance, as vitamin D deficiency is frequent in patients with bone metastases.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ThibaudeauTaubenbergerHolzapfeletal.2014,
  author    = {Thibaudeau, Laure and Taubenberger, Anna V. and Holzapfel, Boris M. and Quent, Verena M. and Fuehrmann, Tobias and Hesami, Parisa and Brown, Toby D. and Dalton, Paul D. and Power, Carl A. and Hollier, Brett G. and Hutmacher, Dietmar W.},
  title     = {A tissue-engineered humanized xenograft model of human breast cancer metastasis to bone},
  series = {Disease Models \& Mechanisms},
  volume    = {7},
  journal   = {Disease Models \& Mechanisms},
  number    = {2},
  doi       = {10.1242/dmm.014076},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-117466},
  pages     = {299-309},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {The skeleton is a preferred homing site for breast cancer metastasis. To date, treatment options for patients with bone metastases are mostly palliative and the disease is still incurable. Indeed, key mechanisms involved in breast cancer osteotropism are still only partially understood due to the lack of suitable animal models to mimic metastasis of human tumor cells to a human bone microenvironment. In the presented study, we investigate the use of a human tissue-engineered bone construct to develop a humanized xenograft model of breast cancer-induced bone metastasis in a murine host. Primary human osteoblastic cell-seeded melt electrospun scaffolds in combination with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 7 were implanted subcutaneously in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice. The tissue-engineered constructs led to the formation of a morphologically intact 'organ' bone incorporating a high amount of mineralized tissue, live osteocytes and bone marrow spaces. The newly formed bone was largely humanized, as indicated by the incorporation of human bone cells and human-derived matrix proteins. After intracardiac injection, the dissemination of luciferase-expressing human breast cancer cell lines to the humanized bone ossicles was detected by bioluminescent imaging. Histological analysis revealed the presence of metastases with clear osteolysis in the newly formed bone. Thus, human tissue-engineered bone constructs can be applied efficiently as a target tissue for human breast cancer cells injected into the blood circulation and replicate the osteolytic phenotype associated with breast cancer-induced bone lesions. In conclusion, we have developed an appropriate model for investigation of species-specific mechanisms of human breast cancer-related bone metastasis in vivo.},
  language  = {en}
}