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Cancer selection.

Armand M Leroi1, Vassiliki Koufopanou, Austin Burt

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berks SL5 7PY, UK. a.leroi@ic.ac.uk

Nature Reviews. Cancer
|March 4, 2003

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View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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  • Biomedical And Clinical Sciences
  • Oncology And Carcinogenesis
  • Predictive And Prognostic Markers
  • Cancer Selection.

    • Cancer selection, driven by early-life mortality, favors adaptations that prevent or delay cancer. This evolutionary pressure is heightened in species with complex body plans or longer lifespans, explaining variations in cancer causes.

    Area of Science:

    • Evolutionary biology
    • Cancer biology
    • Genetics

    Background:

    • Cancers are typically considered selectively neutral as they primarily affect post-reproductive individuals.
    • However, cancers that impact younger individuals exert selective pressure for anticancer adaptations.

    Approach:

    • This study explores theoretical predictions regarding cancer selection.
    • It examines how evolutionary pressures shape cancer incidence and prevention mechanisms.

    Key Points:

    • Anticancer adaptations may reduce somatic mutation rates or the proliferation of cancerous cells.
    • Evolutionary pressures for cancer selection intensify with increasing organismal complexity and lifespan.
    • This theory may explain interspecies differences in cancer etiology, such as between mice and humans.

    Conclusions:

    • Cancer selection is a significant evolutionary force, particularly in species with longer lifespans and complex morphologies.
    • Understanding cancer selection can illuminate the diverse causes of cancer across different species.

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