Fig. 2.

Different models of breast cancer dormancy: In the single-cell model (left), cells detached from indolent breast carcinomas lodge at the sites of future metastases and remain quiescent in a state of prolonged survival. In the micro-metastasis model (right), cells detached from aggressive carcinomas lodge at the sites of future metastases and form microscopic tumor foci that have a balanced state of proliferation and apoptosis