ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on current approaches used for engineering mineralized matrices, each with their respective advantages and limitations for use in bone metastasis model systems. It summarizes the current knowledge of tumor-mineral interactions relevant to bone metastasis, describe current efforts to develop mineralized culture systems, and provide a perspective on how such models may be expanded in the future to study the role of mineral in regulating breast cancer in general, and bone metastasis in particular. The vast majority of the research efforts thus far have been focused on the biological mechanisms that govern the bone metastatic capability of breast cancer cells. Tumor cells are exposed to this mineral at both the primary and secondary sites as hydroxyapatite (HA) is a key component of breast microcalcifications and an essential nanostructural constituent of the bone metastatic site, respectively. Furthermore, variations of HA composition may be used to assess the malignant potential of breast cancer.
