[Dormancy of tumor cells]

Whereas tumor dormancy occurs in melanomas, renal carcinomas and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, late recurrence is characteristic of breast cancer in particular. In the early stage, cancer cells break away from the primary tumor into the circulation, some of which are able to attach themselves to a new target tissue and avoid apoptosis. This condition represents dormancy of tumor cells, in which the cell cycle has either stopped or cell division and cell death are in mutual balance. Cessation of the dormancy state and the growth spurt that follows may result from the initiation of angiogenesis (angiogenic switch).