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Cancer research meets evolutionary biology.

John W Pepper1, C Scott Findlay2, Rees Kassen3

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona Tucson, AZ, USA ; The Santa Fe Institute Santa Fe, NM, USA.

Evolutionary Applications
|January 9, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Darwinian theory offers insights into cancer's origins and treatment by viewing neoplastic cells as evolving entities. This evolutionary framework aids in understanding cancer progression and developing new therapeutic strategies.

Keywords:
acquired drug resistancecancer progressiondrug developmentnatural selectionneoplasmssomatic evolutionstem cellstransdisciplinary research

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Cancer biology
  • Biomedical research

Background:

  • Neoplastic cells exhibit characteristics of Darwinian selection, including reproduction with heritable variability affecting survival and replication.
  • Cancer shares fundamental evolutionary processes with other biological systems, suggesting evolutionary theory can unify understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the application of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection to cancer etiology and treatment.
  • To provide a framework for understanding cancer progression and therapeutic resistance using evolutionary principles.

Main Methods:

  • Applying conceptual and analytical tools from evolutionary biology to cancer biology.
  • Incorporating simplified experimental systems and longitudinal observational studies of cancer evolution in animals and humans.

Main Results:

  • Darwinian theory provides a framework for understanding neoplastic progression and acquired therapeutic resistance.
  • Evolutionary insights can explain past challenges and guide novel approaches in cancer drug development.

Conclusions:

  • The Darwinian theory of cancer has significant implications for understanding disease mechanisms and improving treatment strategies.
  • New tools are needed to manage the evolutionary dynamics of neoplastic cells in cancer biology.