recommended article

[Lani]

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%...l.pone.0047587

I spent 30+ minutes explaining it and writing an editorial and.... whoosh it disappeared when I lost WIFI into thin air.. Too tired to rewrite at the moment.

Here is the abstract again:


Abstract Top
Background
Disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in the bone marrow may exist in a dormant state for extended periods of time, maintaining the ability to proliferate upon activation, engraft at new sites, and form detectable metastases. However, understanding of the behavior and biology of dormant breast cancer cells in the bone marrow niche remains limited, as well as their potential involvement in tumor recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the tumorigenicity and metastatic potential of dormant disseminated breast cancer cells (prior to activation) in the bone marrow.

Methodology/Principal Findings
Total bone marrow, isolated from mice previously injected with tumorspheres into the mammary fat pad, was injected into the mammary fat pad of NUDE mice. As a negative control, bone marrow isolated from non-injected mice was injected into the mammary fat pad of NUDE mice. The resultant tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers. Mouse lungs, livers, and kidneys were analyzed by H+E staining to detect metastases. The injection of bone marrow isolated from mice previously injected with tumorspheres into the mammary fat pad, resulted in large tumor formation in the mammary fat pad 2 months post-injection. However, the injection of bone marrow isolated from non-injected mice did not result in tumor formation in the mammary fat pad. The DTC-derived tumors exhibited accelerated development of metastatic lesions within the lung, liver and kidney. The resultant tumors and the majority of metastatic lesions within the lung and liver exhibited a mesenchymal-like phenotype.

Conclusions/Significance
Dormant DTCs within the bone marrow are highly malignant upon injection into the mammary fat pad, with the accelerated development of metastatic lesions within the lung, liver and kidney. These results suggest the acquisition of a more aggressive phenotype of DTCs during metastatic latency within the bone marrow microenvironment.

[Ellie F]

Really sorry Lani that you lost your post in cyberspace! Just want to say many thanks for your continued support for the board and the efforts you make to keep us informed.
Ellie

[Laurel]

Yup. Couldn't agree more, Ellie. Lani rocks!

[Jean]

Lani,
I remember when I was first dx at the hospital there was a trial going on in which bone cell biopsies were being done to check for dormant TC especially in early stage patients. I wanted to participate but could not because my surgeon was not involved in the trial. I have not heard anything on this in the last few years.

Has any clear answer come from those trials?
Thank you.
Jean

[Paula O]

Thanks for sharing all the research that you do, Lani.

Bummer when wifi is lost along with what was written. I'd be interested in your thoughts/explaination if you decide to re-write it.

With appreciation,
Paula