Remod­el­ling of the Bone Microen­vi­ron­ment Dur­ing Can­cer Infil­tra­tion: Insights from Mul­ti­plex Imag­ing and Spa­tial Transcriptomics 

Bone is a dynam­ic tis­sue shaped by con­tin­u­ous inter­ac­tions among osteo­clasts, osteoblasts, stro­mal cells, immune pop­u­la­tions, and the sur­round­ing extra­cel­lu­lar matrix. When can­cer cells infil­trate bone, this fine­ly bal­anced microen­vi­ron­ment under­goes exten­sive struc­tur­al and mol­e­c­u­lar remod­el­ling that sup­ports metasta­t­ic growth.

This pre­sen­ta­tion uses prin­ci­ples of nor­mal bone remod­el­ling as a foun­da­tion for under­stand­ing how tumor cells reshape the bone niche dur­ing metas­ta­sis. Draw­ing on patient‑derived sam­ples pri­mar­i­ly from breast and prostate can­cer, the talk show­cas­es mul­ti­plex imag­ing and spa­tial tran­scrip­tomics data that map inter­ac­tions between can­cer cells, fibrob­lasts, vas­cu­la­ture, nerves, and oth­er key com­po­nents of the metasta­t­ic microenvironment.

The ses­sion will also include prac­ti­cal guid­ance on pre‑analytical tis­sue han­dling to ensure high‑quality sam­ples for spa­tial tran­scrip­tomics. Togeth­er, these insights high­light how spa­tial­ly resolved tech­nolo­gies can deep­en our under­stand­ing of bone metas­ta­sis biol­o­gy in cancer.

Bone is a dynam­ic tis­sue shaped by con­tin­u­ous inter­ac­tions among osteo­clasts, osteoblasts, stro­mal cells, immune pop­u­la­tions, and the sur­round­ing extra­cel­lu­lar matrix. When can­cer cells infil­trate bone, this fine­ly bal­anced microen­vi­ron­ment under­goes exten­sive struc­tur­al and mol­e­c­u­lar remod­el­ling that sup­ports metasta­t­ic growth.

This pre­sen­ta­tion uses prin­ci­ples of nor­mal bone remod­el­ling as a foun­da­tion for under­stand­ing how tumor cells reshape the bone niche dur­ing metas­ta­sis. Draw­ing on patient‑derived sam­ples pri­mar­i­ly from breast and prostate can­cer, the talk show­cas­es mul­ti­plex imag­ing and spa­tial tran­scrip­tomics data that map inter­ac­tions between can­cer cells, fibrob­lasts, vas­cu­la­ture, nerves, and oth­er key com­po­nents of the metasta­t­ic microenvironment.

The ses­sion will also include prac­ti­cal guid­ance on pre‑analytical tis­sue han­dling to ensure high‑quality sam­ples for spa­tial tran­scrip­tomics. Togeth­er, these insights high­light how spa­tial­ly resolved tech­nolo­gies can deep­en our under­stand­ing of bone metas­ta­sis biol­o­gy in cancer.

Remodelling of the Bone Microenvironment During Cancer Infiltration: Insights from Multiplex Imaging and Spatial Transcriptomics
Remodelling of the Bone Microenvironment During Cancer Infiltration: Insights from Multiplex Imaging and Spatial Transcriptomics
Remodelling of the Bone Microenvironment During Cancer Infiltration: Insights from Multiplex Imaging and Spatial Transcriptomics

Christi­na Møller Andreasen

Dr. Moeller Andreasen is an Asso­ciate Pro­fes­sor, PhD, at the Research Unit of Pathol­o­gy, Depart­ment of Clin­i­cal Research, Uni­ver­si­ty of South­ern Den­mark, where she leads the Bone & Can­cer Research team inves­ti­gat­ing bone metas­tases in breast and prostate can­cer. Her research focus­es on the cel­lu­lar and mol­e­c­u­lar dynam­ics of the bone microen­vi­ron­ment dur­ing metasta­t­ic pro­gres­sion, with par­tic­u­lar empha­sis on how tumor – stro­ma inter­ac­tions shape metasta­t­ic col­o­niza­tion, dor­man­cy, and ther­a­peu­tic resistance.

Dr. Moeller Andreasen is an Asso­ciate Pro­fes­sor, PhD, at the Research Unit of Pathol­o­gy, Depart­ment of Clin­i­cal Research, Uni­ver­si­ty of South­ern Den­mark, where she leads the Bone & Can­cer Research team inves­ti­gat­ing bone metas­tases in breast and prostate can­cer. Her research focus­es on the cel­lu­lar and mol­e­c­u­lar dynam­ics of the bone microen­vi­ron­ment dur­ing metasta­t­ic pro­gres­sion, with par­tic­u­lar empha­sis on how tumor – stro­ma inter­ac­tions shape metasta­t­ic col­o­niza­tion, dor­man­cy, and ther­a­peu­tic resistance.

She is a cur­rent mem­ber of the Acad­e­my of the Euro­pean Cal­ci­fied Tis­sue Soci­ety, active­ly con­tribut­ing to bone research and men­tor­ing with­in the Euro­pean sci­en­tif­ic community.

Dr. Moeller Andreasen is an Asso­ciate Pro­fes­sor, PhD, at the Research Unit of Pathol­o­gy, Depart­ment of Clin­i­cal Research, Uni­ver­si­ty of South­ern Den­mark, where she leads the Bone & Can­cer Research team inves­ti­gat­ing bone metas­tases in breast and prostate can­cer. Her research focus­es on the cel­lu­lar and mol­e­c­u­lar dynam­ics of the bone microen­vi­ron­ment dur­ing metasta­t­ic pro­gres­sion, with par­tic­u­lar empha­sis on how tumor – stro­ma inter­ac­tions shape metasta­t­ic col­o­niza­tion, dor­man­cy, and ther­a­peu­tic resistance.

Dr. Moeller Andreasen is an Asso­ciate Pro­fes­sor, PhD, at the Research Unit of Pathol­o­gy, Depart­ment of Clin­i­cal Research, Uni­ver­si­ty of South­ern Den­mark, where she leads the Bone & Can­cer Research team inves­ti­gat­ing bone metas­tases in breast and prostate can­cer. Her research focus­es on the cel­lu­lar and mol­e­c­u­lar dynam­ics of the bone microen­vi­ron­ment dur­ing metasta­t­ic pro­gres­sion, with par­tic­u­lar empha­sis on how tumor – stro­ma inter­ac­tions shape metasta­t­ic col­o­niza­tion, dor­man­cy, and ther­a­peu­tic resistance.

She is a cur­rent mem­ber of the Acad­e­my of the Euro­pean Cal­ci­fied Tis­sue Soci­ety, active­ly con­tribut­ing to bone research and men­tor­ing with­in the Euro­pean sci­en­tif­ic community.

Christina Møller Andreasen | Remodelling of the Bone Microenvironment During Cancer Infiltration: Insights from Multiplex Imaging and Spatial Transcriptomics
Christi­na Møller Andreasen, Uni­ver­si­ty of South­ern Den­mark, DENMARK

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