Osteomimicry
Osteomimicry
Osteomimicry (pronounced: os·teo·mi·mi·cry) is a biological process where non-bone cells adopt characteristics of bone cells to promote cancer metastasis to the bone. The term is derived from the Greek words "osteon" meaning bone, and "mimesis" meaning imitation.
Etymology
The term "Osteomimicry" is a combination of two Greek words. "Osteon" (ὀστέον) which means bone, and "mimesis" (μίμησις) which means imitation. It was coined to describe the phenomenon where cancer cells mimic the properties of bone cells to facilitate their metastasis to the bone.
Process
In Osteomimicry, cancer cells express bone-related genes and proteins, which allow them to mimic the properties of bone cells. This enables them to adhere to the bone matrix and survive in the bone microenvironment. The process is facilitated by various signaling pathways, including the TGF-beta and Wnt pathways.
Related Terms
- Metastasis: The process by which cancer cells spread from the place where they first formed to another part of the body.
- Bone Cells: The cells that make up the bone, including osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts.
- TGF-beta: A protein that controls proliferation, cellular differentiation, and other functions in most cells.
- Wnt: A group of signal transduction pathways made of proteins that pass signals into a cell through cell surface receptors.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Osteomimicry
- Wikipedia's article - Osteomimicry
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