Osteoblast-Prostate Cancer Cell Interaction in Prostate Cancer Bone

Prostate cancer cells have a remarkable affinity to develop metastases in bone. Clinical data and laboratory observations both suggest that bone-malignant epithelium interactions play a central role in prostate cancer progression. We have developed an in vitro model system that reflects the most common cellular features of prostate cancer bone metastases. The model consists of the prostate cancer cell lines: MDA PCa 2a or MDA PCa 2b (the TabBO cells) co-cultured with primary mouse osteoblasts (PMO). The two cell types share medium but are not in physical contact because the prostate cancer cells are plated in cell-culture inserts. We have established the optimal conditions for growing prostate cancer cells in co-culture with PMO. Using those conditions, we defined the effect that prostate cancer cells have in PMO in our model system. This effect reflects the interaction between prostate cancer cells and osteoblasts in prostate cancer bone metastases. Therefore we conclude that our model system may be suitable to study the molecular and cellular events involved in the new bone formation observed in prostate cancer bone metastases.