Mechanisms and potential biomarkers identified for tumor cell dormancy

Oncologists have long puzzled over the fact that after cancer treatment, single cancer cells that are dispersed throughout the body - so-called disseminated tumor cells - are quick to grow and form secondary tumors called metastases in certain organs, while in other organs they metastasize more slowly, sometimes decades later. Such is the case with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells, which remain dormant when lodged in bone marrow but rapidly form tumors when they make their way into the lungs. A study published online by Nature Cell Biology by Bragado et al...
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cancer / Oncology Source Type: news