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Does tumour dormancy offer a therapeutic target?

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 10, pages 871–877 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

The increasing number of cancer survivors is cause for celebration, but this expanding population has highlighted the problem of tumour dormancy, which can lead to relapse. As we start to understand more about the biology of dormant cancer cells, we can begin to address how best to treat this form of disease. Preclinical models and initial clinical trials, as exemplified in patients with breast cancer, are paving the way to address how best to treat long-term cancer survivors to minimize the risk of cancer recurrence.

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Figure 1: Cancer cells can coexist in three distinct states in a metastatic organ.
Figure 2: The differential sensitivity of dormant versus actively growing cancer cells to doxorubicin.
Figure 3: Long-term risk of breast cancer recurrence by ER status.
Figure 4: MA17 and TEACH trials.

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Acknowledgements

P.E.G. is supported by the Avon Foundation for Women in New York, USA. A.F.C. is Canada Research Chair in Oncology.

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  1. Paul E. Goss is at the Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, 55 Fruit Street, Lawrence House, RH-302, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.,

    Paul E. Goss

  2. and Department of Oncology, Ann F. Chambers is at the London Regional Cancer Program, University of Western Ontario, 790 Commissioners Road East, London, Ontario N6A 4L6, Canada.,

    Ann F. Chambers

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Goss, P., Chambers, A. Does tumour dormancy offer a therapeutic target?. Nat Rev Cancer 10, 871–877 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc2933

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