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Toward a genetics of cancer resistance

George Klein1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. georg.klein@ki.se

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|January 9, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Most humans resist cancer due to inherited cancer-resistant genotypes. Evolution may have favored common resistance genes that prevent early tumor development, potentially acting on tissue organization.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Two-thirds of humans naturally resist cancer, even with risk factors like smoking.
  • This natural resistance suggests underlying genetic, not solely chance-based, protective mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the hypothesis that inherited cancer-resistant genotypes contribute to natural cancer resistance.
  • To investigate the potential evolutionary basis for common cancer resistance genes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing evidence on cancer incidence and genetic factors.
  • Analysis of the proposed mechanisms by which resistance genes might operate.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests that evolution has favored specific, common resistance genes.
  • These genes appear to prevent the development of early cancerous growths (foci).

Conclusions:

  • Inherited cancer-resistant genotypes are a likely explanation for natural cancer resistance.
  • Resistance genes may function in a dominant manner at the tissue organization level, halting cancer initiation.

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