Rethinking Causation in Cancer with Evolutionary Developmental Biology

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Basic cancer research has not translated effectively into clinical applications, posing a significant societal health burden.
• Current approaches, including molecular biomarkers and evolutionary biology, inadequately capture cancer's complex causal dynamics.
• The proximate-ultimate distinction in causation hinders the integration of developmental and evolutionary perspectives in cancer research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel conceptualization of causation in cancer by integrating proximate and ultimate frameworks.
• To leverage evolutionary developmental biology (EvoDevo) to overcome limitations in current cancer research paradigms.
• To demonstrate how an EvoDevo perspective can enhance cancer translational research.

Main Methods:

• Critically evaluating existing molecular biomarker and evolutionary biology approaches to cancer causation.
• Applying concepts from evolutionary developmental biology, specifically modularity and evolvability.
• Proposing a new framework for understanding cancer causation that integrates developmental and evolutionary viewpoints.

Main Results:

• The proximate-ultimate distinction is insufficient for fully understanding cancer's complex causal pathways.
• Evolutionary developmental biology (EvoDevo) offers a robust framework for integrating diverse causal factors in cancer.
• Concepts like modularity and evolvability are key to applying an EvoDevo perspective in translational cancer research.

Conclusions:

• A shift towards an EvoDevo-based conceptualization of causation is crucial for advancing cancer research.
• This integrated perspective can better accommodate the complexity of empirical cancer data.
• Implementing an EvoDevo framework holds promise for novel developments in cancer investigation and clinical treatment.