“The inflammation jolts the dormant cancer cells awake. When researchers administered bleomycin to create lung inflammation, dormant cancer cells suddenly sprang back to life, forming aggressive new colonies within the lung tissue. These cells release epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligands, which dock onto dormant cancer cells like keys fitting into locks. Dormant cancer cells exist in what scientists term a “highly mesenchymal” state – essentially locked in survival mode with limited growth potential. If inflammation awakens dormant cancer cells, then controlling that inflammation might keep them sleeping indefinitely.