Lowry and colleagues report the potential role of stem cell quiescence as a tumour suppressive mechanism. They show that although hair follicle stem cell activation allows tumour formation in response to oncogenic stimuli, tumours are not initiated during the quiescent phase of the hair cycle. They further find that the presence of Pten is important in maintaining hair follicle stem cell quiescence in this setting.
- A. C. White
- J. K. Khuu
- W. E. Lowry