Tissue homeostasis and the control of the neoplastic phenotype in epithelial cancers

Neoplastic cells at various stages of tumor progression may remain dormant for many years. The suppression of the neoplastic phenotype and tumor outgrowth depends on close contact of neoplastic cells with surrounding normal cells. This review examines the nature of these contacts primarily in models for skin cancer induction. Junctional complexes, membrane associated growth factors and their receptors, and paracrine mechanisms likely contribute to this state of tumor cell dormancy. Understanding these mechanisms will be important in primary cancer prevention and for counteracting recurrences in cancer survivors.