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Updated: Aug 12, 2025

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

15.9K

KISS1 metastasis suppressor in tumor dormancy: a potential therapeutic target for metastatic cancers?

Sitaram Harihar1, Danny R Welch2,3

  • 1Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India. sitaramr@srmist.edu.in.

Cancer Metastasis Reviews
|January 31, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Targeting dormant metastatic cancer cells remains a challenge. This review explores the KISS1 gene

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Metastasis Research
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Current cancer therapies struggle to eliminate dormant, therapy-resistant metastatic cells.
  • Tumor dormancy is a critical factor in cancer recurrence and metastasis.
  • Limited understanding of tumor dormancy mechanisms has hindered therapeutic progress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of the KISS1 gene in regulating tumor cell dormancy.
  • To explore the mechanistic insights of KISS1's function as a metastasis suppressor.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential of KISS1 for treating metastatic cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on studies investigating KISS1 and tumor dormancy.
  • Analysis of mechanistic data on how KISS1 influences tumor cell quiescence.
  • Exploration of therapeutic strategies leveraging KISS1 for cancer treatment.

Main Results:

  • KISS1 acts as a metastasis suppressor gene by inducing and maintaining tumor cell dormancy.
  • Mechanistic studies reveal KISS1's role in keeping tumor cells quiescent at ectopic sites.
  • KISS1 has potential for therapeutic applications in eliminating or controlling dormant cancer cells.

Conclusions:

  • KISS1 is a key regulator of tumor dormancy and a promising target for anti-metastasis therapies.
  • Harnessing KISS1 could lead to novel strategies for eradicating dormant metastatic cells or inducing long-term tumor dormancy.
  • Further research into KISS1 mechanisms may unlock new avenues for effective metastatic cancer treatment.
Keywords:
DTCDormancyKISS1KISS1RMetastasisMetastasis suppressorMicroenvironment

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