Tumour dormancy and recurrent metastatic cancer remain the greatest clinical challenge for cancer patients. Dormant tumour cells can evade treatment and detection, while retaining proliferative potential, often for years, before relapsing to tumour outgrowth. Cellular quiescence is one mechanism that promotes and maintains tumour dormancy due to its central role in reducing proliferation, elevating cyto-protective mechanisms, and retaining proliferative potential. Quiescence/proliferation decisions are dictated by intrinsic and extrinsic signals, which regulate the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) to modulate cell cycle gene expression. By clarifying the pathways regulating CDK activity and the signals which activate them, we can better understand how cancer cells enter, maintain, and escape from quiescence throughout the progression of dormancy and metastatic disease. Here we review how CDK activity is regulated to modulate cellular quiescence in the context of tumour dormancy and highlight the therapeutic challenges and opportunities it presents.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41416-023-02401-z | DOI Listing |
Adv Exp Med Biol
January 2025
Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Houston, TX, USA.
This chapter reviews tumor-associated myeloid cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, and other innate immune cells, and their multifaceted roles in supporting breast cancer progression and metastasis. In primary tumors, myeloid cells play key roles in promoting tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion. They can facilitate intravasation (entry into the bloodstream) and colonization, disrupting the endothelial cell layer and reshaping the extracellular matrix.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Exp Med Biol
January 2025
Laboratory of Tumor Heterogeneity, Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Breast cancer remission after treatment is sometimes long-lasting, but in about 30% of cases, there is a relapse after a so-called dormant state. Cellular cancer dormancy, the propensity of disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) to remain in a nonproliferative state for an extended period, presents an opportunity for therapeutic intervention that may prevent reawakening and the lethal consequences of metastatic outgrowth. Therefore, identification of dormant DTCs and detailed characterization of cancer cell-intrinsic and niche-specific [i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRedox Biol
December 2024
Department of Genomic Medicine, GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncology, Pfizer-University of Granada and Andalusian Regional Government, PTS, Granada, Spain; Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix Verdú", Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. Electronic address:
Dormant disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) remain viable for years to decades before establishing a clinically overt metastatic lesion. DTCs are known to be highly resilient and able to overcome the multiple biological hurdles imposed along the metastatic cascade. However, the specific metabolic adaptations of dormant DTCs remain to be elucidated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, South Korea.
Patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer undergoing continuous adjuvant hormone therapy often experience delayed recurrence with tamoxifen use, potentially causing adverse effects. However, the lack of biomarkers hampers patient selection for extended endocrine therapy. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying delayed recurrence and identify biomarkers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrends Cancer
December 2024
Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA; Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA; Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address:
Metastasis is responsible for most cancer-related deaths. Different cancers have their own preferential sites of metastases, a phenomenon termed metastatic organotropism. The mechanisms underlying organotropism are multifactorial and include the generation of a pre-metastatic niche (PMN), metastatic homing, colonization, dormancy, and metastatic outgrowth.
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