Lytic bone lesions in human neuroblastoma xenograft involve osteoclast recruitment and are inhibited by bisphosphonate.

Neuroblastoma is the second most common solid tumor in childhood and frequently metastasizes to the bone marrow and the bone matrix. The mechanism involved in bone metastasis and destruction in neuroblastoma is poorly understood. Using a model of bone invasion in immunodeficient mice, we demonstrated that neuroblastoma cells recruited osteoclasts to generate osteolytic lesions and invade the bone matrix. In further support of a contributory role for osteoclasts in neuroblastoma bone invasion, we demonstrated that treatment with the bisphosphonate compound, ibandronate, significantly delayed the progression of osteolytic lesions. The data suggest that bisphosphonates may be clinically effective in the treatment of bone metastases in neuroblastoma.