Tumor dormancy and MYC inactivation: pushing cancer to the brink of normalcy

Cancer Res. 2005 Jun 1;65(11):4471-4. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-1172.

Abstract

Upon MYC inactivation, tumors variously undergo proliferative arrest, cellular differentiation, and apoptosis and in some cases, apparently permanently revoking tumorigenesis. In liver tumor cells, we recently showed that MYC inactivation uncovers stem cell properties and triggers differentiation, but in this case, their neoplastic properties are restorable by MYC reactivation. Thus, whereas oncogene inactivation can push cancer to the brink of normalcy, some cells retain the latent capacity to turn cancerous again, arguing that they may exist in a state of tumor dormancy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Genes, myc*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology