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Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Heterogeneity Mapping of Protein Expression in Tumors using Quantitative Immunofluorescence
Published on: October 25, 2011
The origins and implications of intratumor heterogeneity
Franziska Michor1, Kornelia Polyak
1Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. michor@jimmy.harvard.edu
Abstract:
Human tumors often display startling intratumor heterogeneity in various features including histology, gene expression, genotype, and metastatic and proliferative potential. This phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity plays an important role in neoplasia, cancer progression, and therapeutic resistance. In this issue of the journal (beginning on page 1388), Merlo et al. report their use of molecular data from 239 patients with Barrett's esophagus to evaluate the propensity of major diversity indices for predicting progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma. This work helps elucidate the implications of molecular heterogeneity for the evolution of neoplasia.
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