Bone niches in the regulation of tumour cell dormancy

Abstract

Secondary metastases, accounting for 90 % of cancer-related deaths, pose a formidable challenge in cancer treatment, with bone being a prevalent site. Importantly, tumours may relapse, often in the skeleton even after successful eradication of the primary tumour, indicating that tumour cells may lay dormant within bone for extended periods of time. This review summarises recent findings in the mechanisms underlying tumour cell dormancy and the role of bone cells in this process. Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niches in bone provide a model for understanding regulatory microenvironments. Dormant tumour cells have been shown to exploit similar niches, with evidence suggesting interactions with osteoblast-lineage cells and other stromal cells via CXCL12-CXCR4, integrins, and TAM receptor signalling, especially through GAS6-AXL, led to dormancy, with exit of dormancy potentially regulated by osteoclastic bone resorption and neuronal signalling. A comprehensive understanding of dormant tumour cell niches and their regulatory mechanisms is essential for developing targeted therapies, a critical step towards eradicating metastatic tumours and stopping disease relapse.