| abstract |
To identify genes and gene products that play a role in cancer as well as cancer metastasis and skeletal related phenomena, to provide a model of metastasis and SRE, and to identify regulators of skeletal related phenomena and metastasis Providing a method for controlling skeletal related phenomena and metastases. The present invention relates to, among other things, a model of bone metastasis, a method for identifying skeletal related phenomena and factors controlling metastasis, and a method for detecting skeletal related phenomena and metastases. The methods and models generally involve co-culturing cancer cells and host cells and comparing biological markers derived from such co-cultured cells with control cells. The present invention comprises a primary tumor from a primary tumor comprising co-culturing one or more host cells with one or more cancer cells for a time sufficient to allow detection of a biological marker indicative of metastasis. A method of simulating a patient's cancer progression to metastasis is also provided. [Selection figure] None |