Scientists map dormant cancer cells' hideouts, opening new targets for treatment
Researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS), Imperial College London and UCL Genetics Institute have created a detailed map of cells within breast tumors and identified distinct neighborhoods of proliferating and dormant cells. The study, published in Genome Medicine, reveals that protective immune and connective cells surround the hibernating cancer cells, potentially shielding…
Scientists map dormant cancer cells' hideouts, opening new targets for treatment
Researchers have created a detailed map of cells within breast tumors, identifying distinct neighborhoods of proliferating and dormant cancer cells. The study, published in Genome Medicine, suggests that protective immune and connective cells surround hibernating cancer cells, potentially shielding them from treatments. The findings could lead to new therapies targeting both cancer cell states and their local environments, to halt tumor growth and prevent cancer from returning later.
Dormant, or quiescent, cells can evade treatment and lead to cancer spread or resurgence. These cells often reside near specific types of immune cells and tumor-supporting cells, which may form a protective shield around them. The research suggests that focusing on these dormant cancer cells, in addition to proliferating ones, could lead to more effective and long-lasting treatments.
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