Periosteal Reaction: A Natural Extracellular Matrix Barrier to Prevent Cancer-Bone Invasion

The periosteal reaction, characterized by increased periosteum thickness in response to various insults such as infection, injury, or cancer, is a hallmark of skeletal responses to damage. A study by Nakamura et al. unexpectedly discovers that periosteal reaction serves to erect a natural extracellular matrix barrier that impedes tumor bone invasion.