Dormancy in Breast Cancer

The pattern of delayed recurrence in a subset of breast cancer patients has long been explained by a model that incorporates a variable period of cellular or tumor mass dormancy prior to disease relapse. In this review, we critically evaluate existing data to develop a framework for inferring the existence of dormancy in clinical contexts of breast cancer. We integrate these clinical data with rapidly evolving mechanistic insights into breast cancer dormancy derived from a broad array of genetically engineered mouse models as well as experimental models of metastasis. Finally, we propose actionable interventions and discuss ongoing clinical trials that translate the wealth of knowledge gained in the laboratory to the long-term clinical management of patients at a high risk of developing recurrence.