Modeling the effects of radiation on the bone tumor microenvironment: opportunities for exploring combination therapies in microphysiologic systems.

Primary bone tumors and bone metastases represent significant challenges in oncology. Radiotherapy is an important adjuvant treatment for several primary bone and musculoskeletal tumors, as well as for palliative care for metastatic bone lesions. While effective in these applications, patients receiving skeletal radiation face a lifelong risk of fragility fracture at the irradiated sites, among other complications.