Figure 2.

Characterization of dormant disseminated tumor cells. (A) Dormant tumor cells have three primary characteristics that distinguish them from other tumor cells and contribute to their metastasis‐initiating potential: the ability to survive in foreign and often hostile environments for a decade or more, temporary and reversible growth arrest, and resistance to therapies. (B) Dormant DTC characteristics are driven by tissue‐specific microenvironmental effectors. Molecules demonstrated to contribute to the DTC dormancy program, a significant fraction of which are derived from microvascular endothelium, are presented here by tissue type and by the dormant property endowed. Color coding matches that of the Venn diagram in panel A.