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VDJ-Seq: Deep Sequencing Analysis of Rearranged Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Gene to Reveal Clonal Evolution Patterns of B Cell Lymphoma
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New paradigms in clonal evolution: punctuated equilibrium in cancer
William Ch Cross1, Trevor A Graham2, Nicholas A Wright2
1Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, EC1 2 AD, UK. w.c.h.cross@qmul.ac.uk.
The Journal of Pathology
|June 11, 2016
Summary
Cancer
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Cancer research
- Genomics
Background:
- Clonal evolution is the established model for cancer initiation and progression.
- Recent technological advancements in genome analysis are challenging conventional views.
- Punctuated and neutral evolution phenomena in cancer are not well explained by gradual models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a hybrid model for cancer evolution.
- To explain recent observations of punctuated and neutral evolution in cancer.
- To discuss the conceptual and clinical implications of variable cancer evolution tempos.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent publications on cancer evolution.
- Application of modern mathematical and bioinformatics techniques.
- Inspiration from the evolutionary model of punctuated equilibrium.
Main Results:
- Recent studies reveal punctuated and neutral evolution in cancer.
- Conventional graduated perspectives inadequately explain these findings.
- A hybrid model offers a better explanation for observed evolutionary patterns.
Conclusions:
- Cancer evolution is undergoing significant changes.
- A hybrid model, incorporating punctuated equilibrium, may better describe cancer progression.
- Understanding variable evolutionary tempos has important clinical implications.
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