Immune regulation of bone metastasis

Abstract

Metastases to bone occur in about 70% of patients with metastatic prostate and breast cancers. Unfortunately, bone metastases result in significant morbidity and mortality and treatment options are limited. Thus, significant effort has focused on understanding the mechanisms that drive tumor dissemination to bone. Bone metastases are typically characterized by a self-perpetuating 'vicious' cycle wherein tumor cells and bone-resorbing cells (osteoclasts) are locked in a cycle that leads to osteoclast-driven bone destruction and the release of bone-stored factors that in turn stimulate tumor cell proliferation and survival. To break this 'vicious' cycle, potent antiresorptive agents such as zoledronic acid (ZOL) have been used. However, in the clinical setting, ZOL failed to improve the overall survival of cancer patients even though it inhibited osteoclast resorptive activity. Thus, other cells in addition to osteoclasts are likely involved in modulating tumor growth in the bone. The immune system has the ability to eliminate tumor cells. Nevertheless, tumor cells can acquire the ability to escape immune control. Our recent observations indicated that a decline in the ability of the immune cells to recognize and kill the tumor drives tumor dissemination to bone even when osteoclasts are inhibited by potent antiresorptive agents. This review focuses on the antitumor and protumor effects of various immune cell populations involved in the bone metastatic process. We also discuss strategies to enhance antitumor immune responses and bypass cancer immune resistance.