Cellular quiescence: How TGFß protects cancer cells from chemotherapy.

ABSTRACT

Using a functional proliferation reporter we identified quiescent tumor propagating cancer cells (TPCs) in intact squamous cell carcinomas, and found that TGFß signaling controls their reversible entry into a growth arrested state, which protects TPCs from chemotherapy. TPCs with compromised TGFß/Smad signaling can't enter quiescence and subsequently die from chemotherapy.