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Inducing stable reversion to achieve cancer control

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 16, pages 266–270 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

How can we stop cancer progression? Current strategies depend on modelling progression as the balanced outcome of mutations in, and expression of, tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes. New treatments emerge from successful attempts to tip that balance, but secondary mutational escape from those treatments has become a major impediment because it leads to resistance. In this Opinion article, we argue for a return to an earlier stratagem: tumour cell reversion. Treatments based on selection and analysis of stable revertants could create more durable remissions by reducing the selective pressure that leads to rapid drug resistance.

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Figure 1: Mechanisms of stable reversion.
Figure 2: Proposed studies of genetic reversion of cancer cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA,

    Scott Powers

  2. at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA.,

    Scott Powers

  3. Columbia University, 10027, New York, USA

    Robert E. Pollack

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Correspondence to Scott Powers or Robert E. Pollack.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Powers, S., Pollack, R. Inducing stable reversion to achieve cancer control. Nat Rev Cancer 16, 266–270 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc.2016.12

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