Tumor cells disseminate early, but immunosurveillance limits metastatic outgrowth, in a mouse model of melanoma

• DOI: 10.1172/jci42002
• Publication Date: 2010-05-24T22:42:27Z
• Authors: Jo Eyles; Anne-Laure Puaux; Xiaojie Wang; Benjamin Toh; Celine Prakash; Michelle Hong; Tze Guan Tan; Lin Zheng; Lai Chun Ong; Yi Jin; Masashi Kato; Armelle Prévost-B...; Pierce Chow; Henry Yang; Jean-Pierre Abastado
• Keywords: Immunosurveillance; Primary tumor

Although metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related death, it not clear why some patients with localized cancer develop metastatic disease after complete resection their primary tumor. Such relapses have been attributed to tumor cells that disseminate early and remain dormant for prolonged periods time; however, little known about control these disseminated cells. Here, we used a spontaneous mouse model melanoma investigate cell dissemination immune outgrowth. Tumor were found throughout body in development tumor, even before became clinically detectable. The remained varying time depending on tissue, resulting staggered Dormancy lung was associated reduced proliferation relative This mediated, at least part, by cytostatic CD8+ T cells, since depletion resulted faster outgrowth visceral metastases. Our findings predict responses favoring dormancy which propose be seed subsequent macroscopic metastases, are essential prolonging survival stage suggest therapeutic strategies designed reinforce such may produce marked benefits patients.