Scientists find breast cancer cells hiding behind protective “shields”
Researchers have mapped breast tumors in striking detail and uncovered hidden pockets of dormant cancer cells that may help explain why cancer can return after treatment. Unlike rapidly dividing cells, these quiet cells can essentially hibernate, allowing them to evade chemotherapy and reactivate later. The team found that they are often surrounded by immune cells and connective tissue cells that…
Scientists have discovered dormant breast cancer cells hiding in protective "shields" within tumors. These inactive cells, known as quiescent or sleeping cancer cells, can survive treatment and potentially contribute to the spread or recurrence of cancer. Researchers from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, and UCL Genetics Institute studied breast tumors and found that these dormant cells are often surrounded by supportive immune and connective tissue cells, which may help shield them from treatment.
The study, published in Genome Medicine, emphasizes the need for future cancer therapies to target not only rapidly dividing tumor cells but also these dormant cells and the local environments that allow them to persist. Understanding the characteristics of these isolated cancer cells and their surroundings could lead to more effective long-term cancer control strategies.
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