Navigation Links
Moffitt researchers: Darwin's principles say cancer will always evolve to resist treatment
Date:6/21/2012

According to researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center, cancer is subject to the evolutionary processes laid out by Charles Darwin in his concept of natural selection. Natural selection was the process identified by Darwin by which nature selects certain physical attributes, or phenotypes, to pass on to offspring to better "fit" the organism to the environment.

As applied to cancer, natural selection, a key principle of modern biology, suggests that malignancies in distinct "microhabitats" promote the evolution of resistance to therapies. However, these same evolutionary principles of natural selection can be applied to successfully manage cancer, say Moffitt researchers who published an opinion piece in a recent issue of Nature Reviews Cancer.

"Understanding cancer as a disease starts with identifying crucial environmental forces and corresponding adaptive cellular strategies," said Robert A. Gatenby, M.D., chair of the Department of Diagnostic Imaging. "Cancer is driven by environmental selection forces that interact with individual cellular adaptive strategies."

Cancer cell development, like any natural selection (or Darwinian) process, is governed by environmental selection forces and cellular adaptive strategies, the authors wrote. Investigating cancer and its proliferation through genetic changes and ignoring the adaptive landscape is most likely futile. Under "selective pressure" of chemotherapy, in this case the "adaptive landscape," resistant populations of cancer cells invariably evolve.

The authors say that tumors can be thought of as "continents" populated by multiple cellular species that adapt to regional variations in environmental selection forces. Their strategy in offering this metaphor, they wrote, is to "integrate microenvironmental factors at work during cancer's progression" into the model of the evolution of cancer and, particularly, the evolution of drug resistance.

"Hundreds of mutations
'/>"/>

Contact: Patty Kim
patty.kim@moffitt.org
813-745-7322
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related medicine news :

1. Moffitt researchers find cancer therapies affect cognitive functioning among breast cancer survivors
2. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers: Quality of life as important as quantity of life
3. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers working at frontiers of melanoma research
4. Moffitt researchers find adolescents with cancer concerned about their future reproductive health
5. Moffitt researcher publishes book on nutritional management of cancer treatment effects
6. Moffitt researcher awarded GE grant to develop tool to detect breast cancer metastasis genetic risks
7. Researchers creating designer lymph nodes based on Moffitts Total Cancer Care initiative
8. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers identify drivers of sarcoma growth and survival
9. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers develop and test new anti-cancer vaccine
10. Moffitt researcher, colleagues find success with new immune approach to fighting some cancers
11. Study Suggests Vaccine May Help Kids With Brain Cancer
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/25/2013)... On May 20, 2013 the Sydney Morning Herald ... or plan for their eventual demise, but it is an ... Must-Do List to help people properly arrange for their last ... fact sheet.” , While not a formal document, this document ... It may include a summary of assets, debts, obtained ...
(Date:5/25/2013)... 2013 The latest report from ... bowel syndrome (IBS) to bloating, constipation, diarrhea and ... long-lasting, embarrassing, frustrating and difficult health issues to ... health have provided a cure for these ... contributing to digestive health issues, a healthy diet ...
(Date:5/25/2013)... On May 25, Voices Against Brain ... advocacy, comments on a new study by the Max ... atmospheric plasma into brain cancer treatment may help when ... Science Daily article, physicists from the Max ... demonstrated the “synergistic effect of cold atmospheric plasma -- ...
(Date:5/25/2013)... 25, 2013 Many orthodontists have thought ... where exactly that cloud is. Most people would ... with to provide their cloud service and support would ... the service they're selling, they'd be wrong. Cloud ... (a secure, redundant facility that houses servers and related ...
(Date:5/25/2013)... According to world-renowned scholars, Queen Cleopatra VII was ... ever lived. Cleopatra’s legendary beauty moved nations and her ... men in her time. Cleopatra was also a scientist ... glowing and fresh, from her legendary milk baths to ... cyprus grass. , Cleopatra was said to possess the ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:FuneralFinancials.com Releases Last Wishes Must-Do List 2Health News:Natural Foods For Digestive Health Report and Video Published by BetterDigestion.org 2Health News:Voices Against Brain Cancer Comments on Study that Shows Cold Plasma’s Success Against Brain Cancer Cells 2Health News:Cirrus Ortho Launches Cloud Computing for Orthodontic Industry That is Unlike Any Other 2Health News:The Cleopatra Lift - A New Non Surgical Option to Aging Offered by Vancouver Physician 2Health News:The Cleopatra Lift - A New Non Surgical Option to Aging Offered by Vancouver Physician 3
... cancer treatments using their knowledge about an obesity drug, orlistat ... in the laboratory . ,The drug binds and ... the protein's function and causes cell death. ,The ... Kridel and W. Todd Lowther at Wake Forest University School ...
... serve to repress an alcoholic's desire for drink, according ... of California-San Francisco . ,Varenicline, manufactured by ... the United States and Europe in 2006, has been ... reward system for addictive substances. ,The research ...
... that a large number of Internet searches are health ... the healthcare sector . This, claims Cambridge UK based ... and medical device manufacturers. According to a series of ... having to come to terms with informed patients who ...
... into a skin-care product that would wipe away wrinkles and ... ,The government's team of camel researchers, which has already pioneered ... found cosmetic properties in the hardy mammal's milk. ... a hospital's skin department to study it on 20 people ...
... or kill tumors in the pancreas of mice, US researchers ... of the deadliest human cancers ,The mutant gene ... kill themselves, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson ... more lethal mutant, called BikDD, which spares healthy tissue. ...
...
Cached Medicine News:Health News:Battle Between Google and Microsoft Could Trigger Revolution in Healthcare 2Health News:Mutated Gene Zaps Pancreas Cancer in Mice 2
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013 Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ... , President and Chief Executive Officer of Neurocrine Biosciences, will ... dbAccess Health Care Conference in Boston.   The ... a.m. Eastern Time / 8:20 a.m. Pacific Time.  The presentation ... website at http://www.neurocrine.com . If you ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013  Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE ) ... & EVP-Business Development, will present at The Deutsche Bank 38 ... Boston, MA on May 29, 2013 at 1:30pm ... The public may access Mr. Lindop,s presentation live ... Haemonetics Haemonetics (NYSE: HAE ) is ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... WASHINGTON , May 23, 2013 Hearing health ... active, feel younger, and remain socially and professionally engaged, he ... is the overriding message that the Better Hearing Institute ... support of National Men,s Health Week , which leads ... Health Week runs from June 10 through June 16. ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Men Who Want to Stay Active, Feel Younger, and Remain Socially and Professionally Engaged Should Address Hearing Loss, BHI Advises 2Men Who Want to Stay Active, Feel Younger, and Remain Socially and Professionally Engaged Should Address Hearing Loss, BHI Advises 3Men Who Want to Stay Active, Feel Younger, and Remain Socially and Professionally Engaged Should Address Hearing Loss, BHI Advises 4
... Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center has purchased four radiation therapy treatment ... and one Elekta Synergy® S. The order, which includes ... facility to offer patients a complete cancer treatment solution from ... systems position MGH to take advantage of Volumetric ...
... 2 The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) ... annual research project ranks the fall,s 100 most challenging cities ... this year are: McAllen, TX (1); Wichita, KS (2); Louisville, ... In addition, according to a recent AAFA survey, fall ...
Cached Medicine Technology:Massachusetts General Hospital Selects Elekta As New Vendor for Complete Cancer Treatment Solution 2New Fall Allergy Capitals(TM) Reveal the Most Challenging Cities for Allergy Sufferers 2New Fall Allergy Capitals(TM) Reveal the Most Challenging Cities for Allergy Sufferers 3New Fall Allergy Capitals(TM) Reveal the Most Challenging Cities for Allergy Sufferers 4New Fall Allergy Capitals(TM) Reveal the Most Challenging Cities for Allergy Sufferers 5New Fall Allergy Capitals(TM) Reveal the Most Challenging Cities for Allergy Sufferers 6
... the parafollicular C-cells of the thyroid gland ... major action of calcitonin is to lower ... resulting in decreased mobilization of calcium from ... in conditions associated with high levels of ...
Calcitonin RIA Kit...
Validated by decades of research and clinical experience, HFA is the accepted standard of care in glaucoma diagnosis and management. With HFA you can feel confident you're providing the best possible...
... been a standard requirement for ... during laser procedures, however, many ... that smoke plume generated from ... as smoke plume generated from ...
Medicine Products: