Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
08:14
Induction and Diagnosis of Tumors in Drosophila Imaginal Disc Epithelia
Published on: July 25, 2017
15.9K
Tissue disruption increases stochastic gene expression thus producing tumors: Cancer initiation without driver
1INSA/Université Fédérale de Toulouse, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés, UMR CNRS 5504, UMR INRA 792, Toulouse, 31077, France.
International Journal of Cancer
|January 5, 2017
Summary
Tissue disruption, not genetics, may initiate cancer by increasing stochastic gene expression (SGE). This leads to phenotypic plasticity and uncontrolled cell growth, reversing the traditional view of cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cancer research faces paradoxes, suggesting limitations of the reductionist approach.
- Cellular differentiation involves chromatin closing and reduced gene expression noise.
- Disrupted cell-cell interactions are linked to increased expression noise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a new model for cancer origin at the tissue level.
- To investigate the role of stochastic gene expression (SGE) in cancer initiation.
- To re-evaluate the interplay between microenvironment, genetics, and cancer progression.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual review and synthesis of existing cancer research findings.
- Analysis of cellular processes like chromatin accessibility and gene expression noise.
- Examination of the role of cell-cell interactions and tissue microenvironment.
Main Results:
- Increased SGE, a hallmark of pluripotency, may drive cancer initiation following tissue disruption.
- Disrupted tissue equilibrium and increased SGE lead to phenotypic plasticity and cancer stem cells.
- Genetic alterations act as tumor promoters, but microenvironmental and epigenetic changes precede malignancy.
Conclusions:
- Cancer may originate from tissue-level disruptions that increase SGE, rather than solely genetic mutations.
- The microenvironment and epigenetic factors play a crucial role in initiating cancer.
- This model offers a potential resolution to paradoxical findings in cancer research.
More Related Videos
05:06Tumor Allotransplantation in Drosophila melanogaster with a Programmable Auto-Nanoliter Injector
Published on: February 2, 2021
2.8K
10:31The Drosophila Imaginal Disc Tumor Model: Visualization and Quantification of Gene Expression and Tumor Invasiveness Using Genetic Mosaics
Published on: October 6, 2016
11.9K
Related Concept Videos
01:12Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
6.2K
Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
6.2K
01:33Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
11.7K
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
11.7K
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
10.0K
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
10.0K
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
5.3K
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.3K
02:18Cancer
55.2K
Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
55.2K
01:06Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
5.8K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic...
Somatic...
5.8K