Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2025

Generation of Heterogeneous Drug Gradients Across Cancer Populations on a Microfluidic Evolution Accelerator for Real-Time Observation
Published on: September 19, 2019
Epigenomic heterogeneity as a source of tumour evolution
Marthe Laisné1,2, Mathieu Lupien3,4,5, Céline Vallot6,7,8
1CNRS UMR3244, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France.
Epigenomic heterogeneity, not just genetics, drives cancer evolution by creating diverse cell states. Understanding and targeting these epigenetic changes is key to limiting cancer development and progression.
Area of Science:
- Cancer Biology
- Epigenetics
- Genomics
Background:
- Cancer treatments targeting DNA variants show progress.
- Genetic mutations alone don't explain diverse cancer cell states.
- Epigenetic processes regulate DNA function and are disrupted in cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore epigenomic heterogeneity as a driver of tumor evolution.
- To discuss methods for quantifying epigenomic heterogeneity.
- To address therapeutic strategies targeting epigenomic plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Review of advances in single-cell technologies for epigenomic analysis.
- Discussion of best practices for quantifying epigenomic heterogeneity.
- Exploration of epigenomic reprogramming, stochastic changes, and memory.
Main Results:
- Epigenomic heterogeneity and plasticity act as a reservoir for cell states.
- This heterogeneity fuels tumor evolution and the emergence of defective cell states.
- Single-cell technologies enable quantification of tumor epigenomic heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- Epigenomic heterogeneity is a critical factor in cancer development and progression.
- Targeting epigenomic plasticity offers new therapeutic avenues.
- Limiting epigenomic heterogeneity may restrict cancer evolution.
Related Concept Videos
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Epigenetic Regulation
X-chromosome...
Tumor Progression
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...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
The Tumor Microenvironment
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...

