Drug-tolerant persister cells in cancer: bridging the gaps between bench and bedside

Drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells represent a major obstacle to achieving durable cancer remission, yet their biology and clinical relevance remain poorly understood. This perspective highlights key gaps hindering the translation of DTP research into clinical progress, emphasizing the need to move beyond reductionist models toward integrative, patient-aligned approaches that reflect clinical complexity. Bridging these divides will be crucial to reveal actionable biomarkers and develop therapies capable of eradicating these resilient cell populations. Drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells are a rare subpopulation of cancer cells that can survive chemotherapy through reversible non-genetic mechanisms. Here, the authors provide their perspective on the existing gaps and outline the research paths still required to bridge basic DTP research with effective clinical strategies.