Metabolic landscape of disseminated cancer dormancy.

Abstract

Cancer dormancy is a phenomenon defined by the entry of cancer cells into a reversible quiescent, nonproliferative state, and represents an essential part of the metastatic cascade responsible for cancer recurrence and mortality. Emerging evidence suggests that metabolic reprogramming plays a pivotal role in enabling entry, maintenance, and exit from dormancy in the face of the different environments of the metastatic cascade. Here, we review the current literature to understand the dynamics of metabolism during dormancy, highlighting its fine-tuning by the host micro- and macroenvironment, and put forward the importance of identifying metabolic vulnerabilities of the dormant state as therapeutic targets to eradicate recurrent disease.