Tumor-stroma: role of the tumor microenvironment during bone metastasis: unveiling therapeutic targets

Tumor-stroma interactions at the site of primary tumor contribute to increasing tumorogenesis, invasiveness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and metastasis. Similarly, the tumor-stroma interaction at the target metastatic site greatly contributes to increasing cancer cell survival, homing, and colonization. This review aims to summarize the evidence that unveils crucial pathways involved at the tumor-stromal interphase. Using bone as metastatic niche for the dissemination of primary tumors, it also provides an update regarding the relevance of key molecular targets and the development of rational anti-metastatic therapeutic strategies.