The force awakens: metastatic dormant cancer cells

Abstract

Cancer spread: How to let sleeping cells lie Preventing dormant cancer cells (DCCs) from reawakening could be key to preventing cancer recurrence. During cancer progression, dormant tumor cells can travel through the bloodstream, reawakening to form tumors in distant tissues. These tumors, known as metastases, are difficult to treat. The signals that cue DCCs to enter and exit dormancy are poorly understood. In a review, Jeong-Seok Nam and So-Yeon Park at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea report that DCCs often enter dormancy to evade attack by immune cells. Once in a new location, DCCs receive signals from the surrounding tissue, which can trigger tumor development. DCCs can also be reactivated by chronic inflammation. Signals that block reactivation of DCCs are currently being tested as potential therapeutics, and may help in the fight against this leading cause of death from cancer.