Impaired bone microenvironment: Correlation between bone density and presence of disseminated tumor cells

B. Kraemer, Ralf Rothmund*, M. Banys, N. Krawczyk, E. F. Solomayer, C. Mack, D. Wallwiener, T. Fehm

*Corresponding author for this work
9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in bone marrow (BM) occur in 30-40% of primary breast cancer patients. An impaired bone microenvironment may lead to reduced bone density and osteoporosis affecting the BM as a homing site for DTCs. The bone mineral density (BMD) and its correlation to DTC in BM was evaluated. Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty-one women (70 premenopausal, 111 postmenopausal) underwent quantitative ultrasonometry before adjuvant chemotherapy. BM aspirates were analyzed by immunocytochemistry using the ACIS system (Chromavision) based on immunostaining. Results: DTCs were detected in 39% of the patients. Positive BM status correlated significantly with the nodal status. BMD was significantly reduced in the postmenopausal patients (p=0.003). Smaller tumors and higher BMD correlated significantly (p<0.014). Fifty percent of the patients with preclinical osteoporosis were BM positive, whereas 37% with normal or osteopenic BMD had DTCs. Conclusion: An impaired bone microenvironment as found in preclinical osteoporosis might be a homing site for DTCs.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAnticancer Research
Volume31
Issue number12
Pages (from-to)4423-4428
Number of pages6
ISSN0250-7005
Publication statusPublished - 12.2011

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