Cancer as an evolutionary and ecological process

Lauren M.F. Merlo; John W. Pepper; Brian J. Reid; Carlo C. Maley

doi:10.1038/nrc2013

Cancer as an evolutionary and ecological process

Lauren M.F. Merlo, John W. Pepper, Brian J. Reid, Carlo C. Maley

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

950 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neoplasms are microcosms of evolution. Within a neoplasm, a mosaic of mutant cells compete for space and resources, evade predation by the immune system and can even cooperate to disperse and colonize new organs. The evolution of neoplastic cells explains both why we get cancer and why it has been so difficult to cure. The tools of evolutionary biology and ecology are providing new insights into neoplastic progression and the clinical control of cancer.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	924-935
Number of pages	12
Journal	Nature Reviews Cancer
Volume	6
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc2013
State	Published - Dec 9 2006
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oncology
Cancer Research

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title = "Cancer as an evolutionary and ecological process",

abstract = "Neoplasms are microcosms of evolution. Within a neoplasm, a mosaic of mutant cells compete for space and resources, evade predation by the immune system and can even cooperate to disperse and colonize new organs. The evolution of neoplastic cells explains both why we get cancer and why it has been so difficult to cure. The tools of evolutionary biology and ecology are providing new insights into neoplastic progression and the clinical control of cancer.",

author = "Merlo, {Lauren M.F.} and Pepper, {John W.} and Reid, {Brian J.} and Maley, {Carlo C.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the US National Institutes of Health, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Pew Charitable Trust, and initiated by the Santa Fe Institute. We thank W. Ewens, M. Carroll and J. Radich for helpful comments. We apologize to our peers whose work we were unable to cite owing to space limitations.",

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AU - Reid, Brian J.

AU - Maley, Carlo C.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the US National Institutes of Health, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Pew Charitable Trust, and initiated by the Santa Fe Institute. We thank W. Ewens, M. Carroll and J. Radich for helpful comments. We apologize to our peers whose work we were unable to cite owing to space limitations.

PY - 2006/12/9

Y1 - 2006/12/9

N2 - Neoplasms are microcosms of evolution. Within a neoplasm, a mosaic of mutant cells compete for space and resources, evade predation by the immune system and can even cooperate to disperse and colonize new organs. The evolution of neoplastic cells explains both why we get cancer and why it has been so difficult to cure. The tools of evolutionary biology and ecology are providing new insights into neoplastic progression and the clinical control of cancer.

AB - Neoplasms are microcosms of evolution. Within a neoplasm, a mosaic of mutant cells compete for space and resources, evade predation by the immune system and can even cooperate to disperse and colonize new organs. The evolution of neoplastic cells explains both why we get cancer and why it has been so difficult to cure. The tools of evolutionary biology and ecology are providing new insights into neoplastic progression and the clinical control of cancer.

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Cancer as an evolutionary and ecological process

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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