Bone resorption induced by transplanted bladder tumor (MBT-2) in mice.

The high incidence of metastatic bone resorption in urological cancer makes it necessary for clinicians to look for a valid experimental model to investigate basic interaction between cancer cells and bone in order to improve the treatment. A new model of bone resorption has been defined, namely the subcutaneous injection of tumor cell suspensions of invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (MBT-2) into mice after the periosteum of the calvaria has been disrupted. The tumor induced osteolysis associated with osteoclast proliferation with reactive bone formation. Moreover, we were able to show hypercalcemia accompanied with local bone resorption in this model.