Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40894234›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in pharmacology2025

Drug-tolerant persister cell in cancer: reversibility, microenvironmental interplay, and therapeutic strategies.

Haifeng Li, Wenlong Xu, Wenqi Cheng, Guanxiao Yu, Dongmei Tang

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Haifeng Li *Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Wenlong Xu *Qingdao Hospital, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China.
Wenqi ChengAffiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Guanxiao YuQingdao Hospital, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China.
Dongmei TangAffiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells are a subpopulation of cancer cells capable of surviving therapeutic stress through reversible, non-genetic adaptations. These cells contribute to minimal residual disease and eventual tumor relapse. Understanding the mechanisms that govern the entry into and exit from the DTP state-such as epigenetic remodeling, metabolic rewiring, and transcriptional plasticity-reveals actionable vulnerabilities. This article reviews the biological basis of DTP reversibility, outlines the major challenges in targeting these cells, and proposes innovative therapeutic strategies including epigenetic inhibitors, metabolic disruptors, and adaptive dosing regimens. We also highlight the importance of biomarker development and dynamic monitoring. Targeting DTP cells at their reversible stage may prevent permanent resistance, offering a promising avenue to improve treatment durability and patient outcomes in cancer therapy.

Indexed as

drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cellsepigenetic and metabolic reprogrammingreversible drug resistancetherapeutic intervention strategiestumor microenvironment (TME)

Identifiers

PMID40894234
PMCPMC12391116

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.