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. 2020 Apr 16;52(4):569–581. doi: 10.1038/s12276-020-0423-z

Fig. 1. Schematic view of cellular and acellular factors that reawaken dormant cancer cells.

Fig. 1

Cancer cells often enter dormancy to evade immune attack. Once in a new location, these dormant cancer cells (DCCs) receive signals from the surrounding tissue, thereby gain the ability to re-enter the cell cycle. Also, chronic inflammation can reactivate DCCs, which can trigger tumor development. Key signaling components involved in DCC reactivation are currently being investigated and may help to fight this leading cause of death from cancer. ECM, extracellular matrix; DDR, discoidin domain receptor; FZD, frizzled.