Laura Brylka and Anke Baranowsky, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Being experts in the field of bone biology, we focus our research on how the different cell types in the bone communicate in health and disease. This already complex network of interactions gets even more complicated when a tumor, such as breast or prostate cancer, metastasizes into the bone. This is because tumor cells and bone cells also communicate with each other and they can also influence each other. In order to understand and to study these interactions, we need the help and expertise of our collaboration partners who are experts in tumor biology. The close collaboration between bone and tumor biologists, but also between basic scientists and clinicians in the µbone consortium is so valuable and important. Together, we can join forces in order to tackle the difficult task of understanding the mechanisms of bone metastasis.