Evolutionary Biology Of Tumor Initiation And Progression

Download or read book Evolutionary Biology of Tumor Initiation and Progression written by Yusuke Suenaga and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2024-06-28 with total page 151 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cancer is characterized by heterogeneous cells with capacity for self renewal, and selective pressures in the microenvironment which constantly change the cell population. This "descent with modification" is consistent with Darwin's definition of evolution, and accordingly, cancer progression can be captured from an evolutionary angle. However, there is also a clear difference between cancer progression and biological evolution. First, contrary to the evolution of complex organisms, cancer originates from cells of multicellular organisms that escape their constraints and behave like unicellular organisms. Therefore, from the beginning, cancer cells have complex genomes that contain abundant genetic materials which they can use to change their phenotype by dynamic rearrangements and modifications. Secondly, epigenetic effects promote cancer evolution in contrast to the evolution of life. Some tumors develop with minimal genetic alterations, and cell plasticity contributes to both initiation and progression in various tumors. However, an evolutionary theory that encompasses these characteristics of cancer remains to be developed.