A novel pathogenic classification of cancers.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Developmental Biology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Current cancer classification relies on histological appearance, which may not fully capture etiological origins.
• Epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests a need for a pathogenesis-based classification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel classification of cancers based on their underlying pathogenesis.
• To differentiate cancers into inborn errors of development and sporadic types.
• To further sub-define inborn errors into inherited and induced categories.

Main Methods:

• Review of contemporary epidemiological and experimental evidence.
• Development of a new classification framework for cancers.
• Categorization based on etiological pathways rather than morphology.

Main Results:

• Proposed classification defines cancers as either inborn errors of development or sporadic.
• Inborn errors are sub-defined into inherited (parental gamete mutations) and induced (in utero environmental exposure).
• Anticipation that a growing number of sporadic cancers will be linked to the inborn induced errors of development category.

Conclusions:

• A pathogenesis-based cancer classification offers a new perspective on cancer origins.
• The proposed scheme distinguishes between inherited and environmentally induced developmental origins of cancer.
• This framework may reclassify many current sporadic cancers as inborn induced errors of development.