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Preventive evolutionary medicine of cancers
Michael E Hochberg1, Frédéric Thomas, Eric Assenat
1ISEM, UMR5554 CNRS/UM2/IRD, Université Montpellier 2 Montpellier, France ; The Santa Fe Institute Santa Fe, NM, USA ; CREEC, Université Montpellier 2 Montpellier, France.
Evolutionary Applications
|February 12, 2013
Summary
Preventive therapies guided by evolutionary theory offer a promising strategy for controlling early-stage cancers. Targeting high-risk individuals before tumors become detectable can leverage lower genetic diversity for predictable treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Cancer research
- Preventive medicine
Background:
- Darwinian fitness declines with age, potentially impairing the body's ability to control cancerous lesions.
- Early-stage cancers (incipient neoplasms) exhibit lower genetic heterogeneity than advanced tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose an evolutionary framework for cancer prevention.
- To advocate for lifestyle changes and preventive therapies targeting high-risk populations.
- To highlight the advantages of intervening before tumors become clinically detectable and chemoresistant.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual modeling of preventive treatments based on evolutionary principles.
- Analysis of genetic heterogeneity in early versus advanced cancers.
- Discussion of challenges in implementing evolutionary-based cancer prevention.
Main Results:
- Early-stage cancers possess limited adaptive traits due to lower (epi)genetic heterogeneity.
- This limited heterogeneity allows for more predictable treatment options and outcomes compared to advanced cancers.
- Preventive interventions in high-risk groups can potentially control or eliminate tumors before they become clinically significant.
Conclusions:
- An evolutionary approach to cancer prevention is a reliable strategy for controlling early tumors.
- Intervention before clinical detection and chemoresistance offers a predictable therapeutic window.
- Further research and conceptual models are needed to implement these preventive strategies.
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