Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

4.3K
Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
4.3K
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

34.5K
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
34.5K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

5.5K
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.5K
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

6.4K
Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
6.4K
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

2.4K
2.4K
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

6.4K
Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
6.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Polyfunctional Ligand of the Clinical Setting: Thermodynamic Studies of the Equilibria of Tranexamic Acid in Aqueous Solutions.

ACS omega·2026
Same author

Differential Preclinical Efficacy of Combined CDK4/6 and MEK Inhibition in Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma Based on <i>KRAS/NF1</i> Mutational Status.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same author

Environmentally relevant doses of gadolinium (GdCl<sub>3</sub>; Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) trigger immune and antioxidant effects in non-target organisms: Cellular and tissue responses in the gills of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Environmental research·2026
Same author

Establishment and characterization of preclinical models of human gynecologic tract carcinosarcomas demonstrates targetable FGFR1 alterations.

Translational oncology·2025
Same author

Characterizing resistance in prostate cancer at a single cell level with hormonal treatment and epigenetic inhibitors.

The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology·2025
Same author

Biochemical Modification of Poly-Vinyl-Alcohol-Based Bioplastics with <i>Citrus</i> By-Product to Increase Its Food Packaging Application.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 16, 2026

An In Vitro System to Study Tumor Dormancy and the Switch to Metastatic Growth
09:14

An In Vitro System to Study Tumor Dormancy and the Switch to Metastatic Growth

Published on: August 11, 2011

16.4K

The epigenetic/noncoding origin of tumor dormancy.

Francesco Crea1, Nur Ridzwan Nur Saidy2, Colin C Collins3

  • 1Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Agency Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada; Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Trends in Molecular Medicine
|March 16, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) can enter dormancy, driving treatment resistance and metastasis. We define dormancy-competent CSCs (DCCs) as cells that switch between dormant and growth states, suggesting cancer dormancy is a non-genetic disease.

Keywords:
dormancydormancy-competent cancer stem cellsepigenetic/noncoding interactomemetastasistherapy resistance

More Related Videos

A Time-lapse, Label-free, Quantitative Phase Imaging Study of Dormant and Active Human Cancer Cells
12:48

A Time-lapse, Label-free, Quantitative Phase Imaging Study of Dormant and Active Human Cancer Cells

Published on: February 16, 2018

8.0K
An In Vitro Dormancy Model of Estrogen-sensitive Breast Cancer in the Bone Marrow: A Tool for Molecular Mechanism Studies and Hypothesis Generation
08:48

An In Vitro Dormancy Model of Estrogen-sensitive Breast Cancer in the Bone Marrow: A Tool for Molecular Mechanism Studies and Hypothesis Generation

Published on: June 30, 2015

8.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 16, 2026

An In Vitro System to Study Tumor Dormancy and the Switch to Metastatic Growth
09:14

An In Vitro System to Study Tumor Dormancy and the Switch to Metastatic Growth

Published on: August 11, 2011

16.4K
A Time-lapse, Label-free, Quantitative Phase Imaging Study of Dormant and Active Human Cancer Cells
12:48

A Time-lapse, Label-free, Quantitative Phase Imaging Study of Dormant and Active Human Cancer Cells

Published on: February 16, 2018

8.0K
An In Vitro Dormancy Model of Estrogen-sensitive Breast Cancer in the Bone Marrow: A Tool for Molecular Mechanism Studies and Hypothesis Generation
08:48

An In Vitro Dormancy Model of Estrogen-sensitive Breast Cancer in the Bone Marrow: A Tool for Molecular Mechanism Studies and Hypothesis Generation

Published on: June 30, 2015

8.7K

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Stem Cell Research

Background:

  • Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are linked to treatment resistance and metastasis.
  • A clear definition of the CSC phenotype remains elusive.
  • Cancer dormancy is a critical factor in treatment failure and metastatic spread.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a unified definition for dormancy-competent cancer stem cells (DCCs).
  • To elucidate the role of cancer dormancy in neoplastic progression and therapeutic resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of emerging evidence on cancer stem cell biology and dormancy.
  • Conceptual framework development for DCCs based on stem cell properties and cancer behavior.

Main Results:

  • CSCs possess the ability to enter prolonged dormant states, contributing to resistance and metastasis.
  • A proposed definition of DCCs as neoplastic subpopulations capable of plastic alternation between dormancy and proliferation.
  • Cancer dormancy is hypothesized to be a non-genetic disease driven by epigenetic and noncoding interactions.

Conclusions:

  • DCCs represent a crucial subpopulation in cancer, characterized by their ability to cycle through dormancy and growth.
  • The proposed definition offers a unified perspective on CSCs and their role in cancer progression.
  • Cancer dormancy, driven by epigenetic plasticity, presents a paradigm shift from purely genetic models of cancer disease.