Abstract
Cells may occasionally have errors in their DNA, called mutations, which may lead to various diseases. Cancer cells are mutated cells that have lost their ability to control their growth. These cells divide rapidly and can spread to other parts of the body. Scientists take advantage of this trait of cancer cells to try to design various therapies to kill only cells that are dividing very quickly. But what would happen if cancer cells grew slowly or just stopped growing? Well, recent evidence shows that such cancer cells do exist. These cells, also referred to as cancer persisters, are generally non-growing cells that cannot be easily eliminated by traditional cancer therapies. In this article, we will describe what cancer persisters are and why we should make a significant effort to study them.
Highlights
Cells may occasionally have errors in their DNA, called mutations, which may lead to various diseases
If the proteins that regulate cell growth undergo mutations, their incorrect versions may result in abnormal cell growth and can lead to cancer
There are more than di erent cancer types, and each type is caused by a di erent mutation
Summary
Spread of cancer from the place of origin to di erent parts of the body. A process that causes a change in the DNA sequence. Cells in cancer tissues divide at unusually high rates and these cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems, in a process called metastasis. These abnormally growing tissues are called tumors. Cancer is usually caused by mutations, which are mistakes in DNA. Environmental factors, such as the chemicals in tobacco or ultraviolet rays from the sun, can contribute to these mutations. Because cancer cells divide so quickly, they are prone to even more mutations. PERSISTERS Non-growing cells that temporarily survive the drug treatment
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