# Vibration‐Mediated Recovery of Irradiated Osteocytes and Their Regulatory Role in Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis

## TL;DR

This study shows that low-magnitude, high-frequency vibration can protect irradiated bone cells and reduce breast cancer bone metastasis when combined with radiotherapy.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is demonstrating that mechanical vibration can restore osteocyte function and synergize with radiotherapy to combat cancer metastasis.

## Key findings

- LMHF vibration reduces osteocyte apoptosis and enhances cytoskeletal markers after irradiation.
- Vibration restores osteocyte regulation of breast cancer extravasation in a microfluidic model.
- Combining vibration with radiotherapy synergistically reduces cancer invasion and metastasis.

## Abstract

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of breast cancer treatment, but it can unintentionally damage bone, causing bone loss and pain, with no currently effective therapeutic strategy available. While chemically mediated radioprotection is extensively studied, mechanically mediated radioprotection remains underexplored. Given its safety and efficacy, this work examines the potential of low‐magnitude, high‐frequency (LMHF) vibration as a non‐invasive intervention to protect irradiated bone, focusing on osteocytes—the primary mechanosensors and regulators whose functions extend to modulating breast cancer bone metastasis. These results demonstrate that LMHF vibration (0.3 g, 60 Hz, 1 h) mitigates osteocyte apoptosis and upregulates cytoskeletal markers following 8 Gy irradiation. LMHF vibration applied 1 h per day over 3 days restores the regulatory function of irradiated osteocytes in controlling breast cancer extravasation in a microfluidic platform. A combined approach integrating vibration with radiotherapy further reduces cancer invasion and extravasation, demonstrating a compound effect. RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) analysis reveals that this osteocyte‐mediated regulation is possibly driven by the Wnt signaling pathway. These findings highlight the potential of LMHF vibration in enhancing radiotherapy efficacy by protecting osteocytes and reducing breast cancer metastasis, underscoring the promise of a non‐invasive mechanical intervention in preserving bone health and optimizing cancer treatment outcomes.

Radiotherapy damages bone and disrupts osteocyte function, yet mechanically mediated protection remains largely unexplored. This study demonstrates that low‐magnitude, high‐frequency (LMHF) vibration mitigates irradiated osteocyte apoptosis, restores their ability to regulate breast cancer extravasation, and acts synergistically with radiotherapy to reduce metastasis, suggesting a novel mechanical approach to protect bone and enhance cancer treatment outcomes.