Bridging the Gap in Breast Cancer Dormancy: Models, Mechanisms, and Translational Challenges
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MDPI
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) poses a significant clinical challenge due to late metastatic recurrence,
driven by dormant disseminated tumor cells (DTCs). This review emphasizes the urgency
of addressing tumor dormancy to reduce metastatic relapse, a major contributor to BC
mortality. DTCs evade conventional therapies and immune surveillance, reactivating unpredictably,
thus necessitating targeted strategies. Current research is fragmented, with
conflicting data, inadequate models, and a lack of biomarkers hindering progress. This
review synthesizes these gaps and proposes actionable priorities, advocating for integrated,
standardized approaches. It highlights the roles of single-cell multi-omics, spatial
transcriptomics, and humanized long-term models in unraveling dormancy mechanisms.
The review also emphasizes macrophage-targeted therapies, dormancy-specific trials, and
biomarker validation, offering paths to clinical translation. Ultimately, this work emphasizes
the urgent need for integrated multi-omics approaches, including single-cell and
spatial transcriptomics, combined with advanced computational analysis. Moreover, this
review critically analyzes the existing research landscape, meticulously identifying key
gaps, and proposing concrete, forward-looking directions for both fundamental research
and clinical translation in the challenging field of BC dormancy.
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Except where otherwised noted, this item's license is described as Attribution 4.0 International