Biofunctional matrix models reveal mineral-dependent mechanoregulation of bone metastatic breast cancer

Bone metastasis is a leading cause of breast cancer-related deaths and often initiated by tumor cell dissemination to osteogenic niches. During new bone formation, osteoblasts first deposit osteoid, the collagen I-rich, unmineralized component of bone ECM, within which carbonated hydroxyapatite nanoparticles subsequently form. However, it remains elusive how bone matrix mineralization dictates tumor cell phenotype due in part to the lack of relevant model systems. Using biofunctional, collagen I-based bone matrix models with physiological, intrafibrillar mineralization, we show that mineralization inhibits proliferation, while inducing a stem-like phenotype in tumor cells. These changes were due to reduced mechanosignaling contradicting the conventional assumption that increased rigidity caused by mineralization stimulates metastatic progression. Our findings are translationally relevant as the presence of mineral reduced tumor growth in vivo and upregulated a gene signature that correlated with decreased patient mortality. Our results could help explain why decreased bone mineral density increases the risk for bone metastasis in patients and highlight that bone metastasis models should integrate organic and inorganic matrix components in a manner that mimics physiological mineralization.