Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

12.2K
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...
12.2K
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

3.1K
3.1K
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

6.1K
Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
6.1K
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

3.1K
3.1K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

5.6K
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.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
5.6K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

3.8K
3.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Reply to: "On the Distinction Between Prognostic and Predictive Inference in Multicancer Early Detection" and "Interpretation of Survival Outcomes in Multicancer Early Detection Testing Requires Caution".

JCO precision oncology·2026
Same author

Assessment of human immunity to A/H3N2 influenza subclade K during 2025 emergence.

EBioMedicine·2026
Same author

Plasma signals of lung tumor promotion for molecular cancer prevention.

Cell·2026
Same author

Immunotherapy drug target identification using machine learning and patient-derived tumour explant validation.

Nature machine intelligence·2026
Same author

Nociceptive innervation limits tertiary lymphoid structures to promote lung cancer.

Cell·2026
Same author

Subclonal immune evasion in non-small cell lung cancer.

Cancer cell·2026
Same journal

Genomic Imprinting: Common Threads Uniting Diverse Biological Systems.

Annual review of genetics·2026
Same journal

Properties and Prospects of B Chromosomes.

Annual review of genetics·2026
Same journal

Lessons From Yeast: Mechanisms of Telomere Length Regulation.

Annual review of genetics·2026
Same journal

Mechanisms and Evolutionary Advantages of Unlimited Reproductive Lifespans in Naked Mole-Rat Queens.

Annual review of genetics·2026
Same journal

Impact of Small RNA Sponges on Regulatory RNA Networks in Bacteria.

Annual review of genetics·2025
Same journal

Context Specificity of MAP3K DLK Signaling in the Nervous System: Insights from Genetics and Genomics.

Annual review of genetics·2025
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Time-lapse Imaging of Primary Preneoplastic Mammary Epithelial Cells Derived from Genetically Engineered Mouse Models of Breast Cancer
11:47

Time-lapse Imaging of Primary Preneoplastic Mammary Epithelial Cells Derived from Genetically Engineered Mouse Models of Breast Cancer

Published on: February 8, 2013

11.4K

Cancer: evolution within a lifetime.

Marco Gerlinger1, Nicholas McGranahan, Sally M Dewhurst

  • 1Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London, United Kingdom WC2A 3LY;

Annual Review of Genetics
|October 9, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cancer evolution involves complex subclonal changes and parallel evolution, where different cell populations adapt and converge on similar genetic pathways. Understanding these micro- and macroevolutionary shifts is key to improving cancer care and drug development.

Keywords:
cancer evolutiondrug resistancegenome instabilityintratumor heterogeneityprecision medicine

More Related Videos

Generation of Heterogeneous Drug Gradients Across Cancer Populations on a Microfluidic Evolution Accelerator for Real-Time Observation
10:24

Generation of Heterogeneous Drug Gradients Across Cancer Populations on a Microfluidic Evolution Accelerator for Real-Time Observation

Published on: September 19, 2019

5.5K
Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
06:53

Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis

Published on: August 21, 2013

15.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Time-lapse Imaging of Primary Preneoplastic Mammary Epithelial Cells Derived from Genetically Engineered Mouse Models of Breast Cancer
11:47

Time-lapse Imaging of Primary Preneoplastic Mammary Epithelial Cells Derived from Genetically Engineered Mouse Models of Breast Cancer

Published on: February 8, 2013

11.4K
Generation of Heterogeneous Drug Gradients Across Cancer Populations on a Microfluidic Evolution Accelerator for Real-Time Observation
10:24

Generation of Heterogeneous Drug Gradients Across Cancer Populations on a Microfluidic Evolution Accelerator for Real-Time Observation

Published on: September 19, 2019

5.5K
Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
06:53

Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis

Published on: August 21, 2013

15.5K

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cancer is characterized by dynamic spatial and temporal changes in subclonal populations.
  • Branching evolution with low-frequency driver events allows cancer cells to evade targeted therapies.
  • Emerging evidence points to parallel evolution, where distinct subclones converge on similar molecular targets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence for parallel evolution in tumors.
  • To discuss the roles of microevolution and macroevolution in cancer progression.
  • To highlight the implications of tumor evolution for cancer care and drug development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies on cancer evolution.
  • Analysis of evidence for branched and parallel evolutionary patterns.
  • Discussion of macroevolutionary events like chromosomal rearrangements and genome doubling.

Main Results:

  • Tumor evolution exhibits both gradual (microevolution) and saltatory (macroevolution) trajectories.
  • Parallel evolution, driven by distinct somatic events converging on shared pathways, is a significant feature.
  • Macroevolutionary leaps, such as chromosomal rearrangements, may play a crucial role in tumor progression.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding tumor micro- and macroevolution is essential for adapting cancer care.
  • Investigating parallel evolutionary events can lead to improved patient outcomes.
  • Deeper insights into tumor evolution may reduce cancer drug development costs.