[Frontiers in Bioscience S4, 1-15, January 1, 2012]

Structure and function of the solid tumor niche

Elisabeth A. Pedersen1, Yusuke Shiozawa1, Anjali Mishra1, Russell S. Taichman1

1Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
2.1. The HSC niche
2.2. Metastatic tumor cells in the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM)
2.3. Pre-metastatic niche or parasitism?
3. Structure of the niche
3.1. Osteoblasts
3.2. The extracellular matrix and other marrow cells
3.3. Osteoclasts
4. Function of the niche
4.1. Homing, migration, and retention
4.2. Survival and growth
4.3. Quiescence and dormancy
5. Conclusions and Implications
5.1. Target for therapy
5.2. Cancer stem cell niche
5.3. Models to study the niche
5.4. Summary
6. Acknowledgements
7. References

1. ABSTRACT

Although the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche has been an active area of study, the concept of the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) harboring a niche for solid metastatic tumor cells has only recently been considered. The HSC niche and microenvironment that is thought to constitute the solid tumor niche share many of the same structural and functional components, suggesting the possibility that the HSC and tumor niche are one in the same. The osteoblast is a critical component for each of these niches, and is important for regulating cellular processes such homing and migration, growth and survival, and quiescence and dormancy. Current understanding of the HSC niche may provide more insight to better defining the solid tumor niche. As role of the niche in regulating these processes is better understood, new insights to the role of the BMM in metastatic disease may be gained, and provide more potential targets for therapy.