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Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

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Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Glycan Node Analysis: A Bottom-up Approach to Glycomics

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Published on: May 22, 2016

Cancer as an evolutionary and ecological process.

Lauren M F Merlo¹, John W Pepper, Brian J Reid

¹Cellular and Molecular Oncology Program, The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

Nature Reviews. Cancer

|November 17, 2006

Summary

Cancer is an evolutionary process where mutant cells compete and spread. Understanding cancer evolution offers new strategies for treatment and highlights why cures are challenging.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Cancer biology
Ecology

Background:

Neoplasms exhibit characteristics of evolutionary systems.
Mutant cells within tumors compete, evade immune responses, and metastasize.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the application of evolutionary and ecological principles to cancer.
To understand cancer progression and treatment resistance through an evolutionary lens.

Main Methods:

Conceptual review integrating evolutionary theory with cancer biology.
Analysis of neoplastic cell behavior using ecological concepts like competition and adaptation.

Main Results:

Cancer progression is driven by evolutionary dynamics similar to natural selection.
Tumor heterogeneity and adaptation contribute to treatment failure.

Conclusions:

Evolutionary biology provides a framework for understanding cancer development.
Ecological and evolutionary insights can inform novel cancer therapies.