Targeting cancer's weaknesses (not its strengths): Therapeutic strategies suggested by the atavistic model

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Immunology

Background:

• Cancer progression involves tumor cell dedifferentiation, a reversion to phylogenetically older traits.
• Recently evolved capabilities are lost first during cancer development, representing a vulnerability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and exemplify a novel cancer therapeutic strategy based on targeting the weaknesses of cancer cells.
• To exploit the loss of recently evolved functions in cancer cells for therapeutic benefit.

Main Methods:

• Conceptualizing a 'target-the-weakness' strategy against cancer.
• Analyzing the atavistic model of cancer progression.
• Detailing an example targeting the immune system's adaptive immunity.

Main Results:

• The strategy involves creating challenges that only functional, recently evolved capabilities can meet.
• Exploiting the absence of adaptive immunity in immunosuppressed tumors makes cancer cells vulnerable.
• This approach contrasts with conventional therapies focusing on cancer's proliferative strength.

Conclusions:

• The 'target-the-weakness' strategy offers a new paradigm for cancer therapy.
• Exploiting evolutionary trade-offs, like lost adaptive immunity, can selectively harm cancer cells.
• This approach has broad applicability and potential to overcome limitations of current treatments.