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. 2022 Sep 13:9:42-48.
doi: 10.18632/oncoscience.562. eCollection 2022.

Leveraging the scientific findings to develop therapeutic strategies for dormant breast cancer cells

Alejandra Ferrer  1   2 , Yannick Kenfack  1   2 , Andrew Petryna  1   2 , Wadih Arap  1   3 , Renata Pasqualini  3   4 , Pranela Rameshwar  1
Affiliations

Leveraging the scientific findings to develop therapeutic strategies for dormant breast cancer cells

Alejandra Ferrer et al. Oncoscience. .

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) metastasis can occur decades before clinical diagnosis. During this time, the cancer cells (BCCs) can remain dormant for decades. This type of dormancy also occurs during remission where the dormant BCCs adapt cycling quiescence within the tissue microenvironment. BC shows preference for the bone marrow (BM), resulting in poor prognosis. The BM provides a challenge due to the complex niche between the peripheral interface and endosteum. The process of dormancy begins upon entry into the marrow with the changes facilitated through crosstalk between the cancer cells and tissue niche. More importantly, dormancy can occur at any time during the disease process, including the time during treatment. This perspective discusses the challenges posed by the marrow microenvironment to develop treatment. The article discusses the complex mechanisms at each compartment within the marrow niche and the added negative issue of toxicity to the endogenous stem cells.

Keywords: bone marrow; breast cancer; cancer stem cells; gap junction; hematopoietic stem cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Steps towards BCCs transitioning dormant cells.
Shown are BCCs entering the marrow, contacting the MSCs. Shown are MVs entering the entering BCCs. The dedifferentiated BCCs are shown interacting with MSCs (cellular chaperone). The final movement ended at the endosteal region where the dedifferentiated cells form GJIC with stromal cells. Abbreviations: BM: Bone Marrow; CSC: Cancer Stem Cells; GJIC: Gap junctional intercellular communication; MSCs: Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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