Tumor Dormancy and Relapse: Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Recurrence

Overview

Journal Mil Med Res

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Emergency Medicine

Date 2025 Feb 11

PMID 39934876

Authors

Muhammad Tufail

Can-Hua Jiang

Ning Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cancer recurrence, driven by the phenomenon of tumor dormancy, presents a formidable challenge in oncology. Dormant cancer cells have the ability to evade detection and treatment, leading to relapse. This review emphasizes the urgent need to comprehend tumor dormancy and its implications for cancer recurrence. Despite notable advancements, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying dormancy and the lack of reliable biomarkers for predicting relapse. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the cellular, angiogenic, and immunological aspects of dormancy. It highlights the current therapeutic strategies targeting dormant cells, particularly combination therapies and immunotherapies, which hold promise in preventing relapse. By elucidating these mechanisms and proposing innovative research methodologies, this review aims to deepen our understanding of tumor dormancy, ultimately facilitating the development of more effective strategies for preventing cancer recurrence and improving patient outcomes.

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