Towards cancer-aware life-history modelling

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Life-History Theory
• Cancer Biology

Background:

• Life-history theory and body size evolution studies often overlook cancer's impact on reproductive lifespan.
• The assumption that predation, parasitism, and starvation are the primary drivers of mortality in the wild neglects cancer's evolutionary role.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cancer-aware life-history theory by quantifying the impact of cancer risk on reproductive lifespan.
• To explore how adaptive responses to cancer risk influence body size evolution and life-history trade-offs.

Main Methods:

• Quantifying the reduction in expected reproductive lifespan due to increased cancer risk associated with larger body size.
• Analyzing how variations in extrinsic mortality and pace of life affect cancer incidence across species, addressing Peto's paradox.

Main Results:

• Larger body size increases cancer risk, potentially shortening reproductive lifespan.
• Adaptive responses and life-history traits can equalize cancer incidence across species, mitigating Peto's paradox.
• Within-species, males may be more cancer-prone than females due to sexual conflict.

Conclusions:

• Cancer is a significant, underappreciated factor in shaping life histories and body size evolution.
• Integrating cancer risk into life-history theory provides a more comprehensive understanding of aging and survival.
• Further research into cancer's role in sexual conflict and within-species variation is warranted.