Hierarchy of breast cancer cells: key to reverse dormancy for therapeutic intervention

An understanding of how cancer cells adapt dormancy would allow for targeted treatment. The current literature suggests that the cancer stem cells might be the major cells with the ability to become quiescent and to resist current drug treatment. The properties of cancer stem cells and healthy stem cells are functionally similar, thereby posing a challenge to target the dormant cells. The bone marrow is particularly a challenge because the dormant breast cancer cells are close to the endosteum, which is also home to the endogenous hematopoietic stem cells. Here we discuss how research studies could bring an understanding of the cellular and molecular interactions between the cancer stem cells and cells within the bone marrow microenvironment. This will allow for intervention to reverse dormancy for targeted treatment. The treatment will require studies within the normal organ functions to ensure treatment without toxicity.