Palliative radiotherapy (RTx), delivering ionizing radiation up to 50 Grays (Gy), is widely used to relieve pain and control bone metastases. However, high-dose RTx also weakens the surrounding healthy bone matrix, increasing fracture risk. Using a metastasis-free rat model, we demonstrate that RTx rapidly deteriorates bone architecture and composition, leading to compromised mechanical properties. To investigate the mechanisms behind radiation-induced bone fragility, we examined the osteocyte lacuna-canalicular system and observed reduced osteocyte density, altered morphology, and disruption of their functional network—critical for bone remodeling. Additionally, irradiated osteocytes promoted osteoclastogenesis when cocultured with bone-resorbing osteoclasts, further exacerbating bone loss. These findings suggest that beyond inhibiting bone resorption, preserving bone matrix quality is essential. Integrating bone matrix assessment with traditional bone density screening may improve fracture prevention strategies and enhance the management of metastatic bone disease.
Dr. Stacyann Bailey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts (UMass), Amherst. She earned her Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering from The City College of New York and her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. Dr. Bailey’s research focuses on unraveling the complex mechanisms that affect bone quality and contribute to increased skeletal fragility. Her work aims to accelerate the development of clinical strategies for predicting bone fracture risk and therapeutic outcomes in individuals with age-related and pathological bone diseases. Dr. Bailey is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the RPI Van Auken Postdoctoral Award, NIH T32 Cancer Prevention and Control Postdoctoral Award, and the Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, the Orthopedic Research Society, and Advances in Mineral Metabolism. Her lab is supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Additionally, she is an ASBMR THRIVE Scholar, an NCI Early Investigator Advancement Program Scholar, and a UMass NSF ADVANCE fellow.