Clonal Evolution in Cancer

Overview

Journal Nature

Specialty Science

Date 2012 Jan 20

PMID 22258609

Citations 1475

Authors

Mel Greaves

Carlo C Maley

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cancers evolve by a reiterative process of clonal expansion, genetic diversification and clonal selection within the adaptive landscapes of tissue ecosystems. The dynamics are complex, with highly variable patterns of genetic diversity and resulting clonal architecture. Therapeutic intervention may destroy cancer clones and erode their habitats, but it can also inadvertently provide a potent selective pressure for the expansion of resistant variants. The inherently Darwinian character of cancer is the primary reason for this therapeutic failure, but it may also hold the key to more effective control.

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