Pain in bone metastases: from physiopathology to therapeutic options - Il dolore nelle metastasi ossee: dalla fisiopatologia alle opzioni terapeutiche

Abstract

Cancer-induced bone pain is the most common complication in patients with bone metastases. It causes a significant reduction in patient quality of life. Recent studies using preclinical models have demonstrated the role of the bone marrow microenvironment (osteoclasts, osteoblasts, macrophages, mast cells, mesenchymal stem cells and fibroblasts) in bone pain metastases development. Available analgesic treatments for bone pain metastases, such as opioids that target the central nervous system, come with severe side effects as well as the risk of abuse and addiction. Therefore, alternative treatments are needed to develop more effective and safer targeted therapies.

Keywords

• Cancer-induced bone pain
• bone marrow microenvironment
• bone metastases
• osteoclasts
• macrophages