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Tumor Progression

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...

The Tumor Microenvironment

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...

Tumor Immunotherapy

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.

Cancer

Cancer

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.

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

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...

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Patient-Derived Tumor Explants As a "Live" Preclinical Platform for Predicting Drug Resistance in Patients

Patient-Derived Tumor Explants As a "Live" Preclinical Platform for Predicting Drug Resistance in Patients

Published on: February 7, 2021

SnapShot: Tumor evolution.

Ariana Huebner¹, Michelle Dietzen¹, Nicholas McGranahan¹

¹Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, London, UK; Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK.

|March 19, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces tumor evolution concepts, explaining how understanding tumor growth and changes over time is key to addressing treatment failures and metastasis. It highlights the importance of studying tumor progression for developing better cancer therapies.

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Last Updated: Nov 12, 2025

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Published on: February 7, 2021

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Area of Science:

Oncology
Cancer Biology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Tumor growth and evolution are complex processes.
Understanding these processes is critical for effective cancer treatment.
Tumor evolution influences treatment resistance and metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a foundational understanding of tumor evolution.
To introduce key concepts related to how tumors change over time.
To offer insights into the mechanisms behind treatment failure and metastasis.

Main Methods:

This is an introductory overview, not a research study.
Key concepts are explained through a narrative approach.
Information is presented in a downloadable PDF format.

Main Results:

Tumor evolution involves dynamic changes in cancer cells.
These changes can lead to the development of drug resistance.
Understanding evolutionary dynamics is essential for predicting tumor behavior.

Conclusions:

A grasp of tumor evolution is fundamental in oncology.
Further research into tumor evolution can improve patient outcomes.
This overview serves as a starting point for understanding cancer progression.