Immune-mediated dormancy is when the immune system keeps proliferating tumor cells unchanged, mostly via cytotoxic activity of immune cells. Cancer dormancy, especially immune-mediated dormancy, may be the explanation for tumor refractory and may be responsible for resistance to conventional chemo- and radiotherapies. Here, we will describe different scenarios as to how the immune cells and cytokines involved in cancer progression are connected with the initiation of dormancy and cancer treatment. Two distinct treatment methods, such as maintaining metastatic tumor cells dormant and awakening them, are also discussed. A better understanding of immune-mediated dormancy will help to design novel and effective immunotherapies and will likely increase the efficiency of tumor treatment inhibiting metastasis.
Keywords: cancer dormancy; disseminated tumor cells (DTCs); immune-mediated dormancy; immunotherapies; metastases.