Chambers Ann F, Goss Paul E
Breast Cancer Res. 2008;10(6):114. doi: 10.1186/bcr2197. Epub 2008 Nov 27.
The fate of cells that disseminate from a primary breast tumour remains poorly understood. Studies of the kinetics of recurrence in breast cancer patients are raising important questions about the biology of the metastatic process. Where do tumour cells reside once they leave the primary tumour, and what factors influence their dormancy and recurrent growth? Clinical data analyses are leading to hypotheses about the biology of metastasis, dormancy and recurrence. A combined clinical and experimental approach to testing these hypotheses will help to clarify this important issue in breast cancer biology and patient care.
从原发性乳腺肿瘤扩散的细胞命运仍知之甚少。对乳腺癌患者复发动力学的研究提出了有关转移过程生物学的重要问题。肿瘤细胞一旦离开原发性肿瘤后会驻留在何处，以及哪些因素会影响它们的休眠和复发生长？临床数据分析正在催生有关转移、休眠和复发生物学的假说。采用临床与实验相结合的方法来检验这些假说，将有助于阐明乳腺癌生物学和患者护理方面的这一重要问题。
