Dormant Cancer: Lack of a protein sends tumor cells to bed

One standard approach to curing cancer is to kill off malignant cells, and doctors consider their treatment a success when no cancerous cells remain. However, many patients whose test results show no malignancy have their cancer reappear years later. New research suggests an explanation.

Scientists working with mice find that when they crank up production of a protein called Myc, they spur liver-tumor growth, and stopping Myc manufacture halts it.