Abstract
It is proposed that most neoplasms arise from a single cell of origin, and tumor progression results from acquired genetic variability within the original clone allowing sequential selection of more aggressive sublines. Tumor cell populations are apparently more genetically unstable than normal cells, perhaps from activation of specific gene loci in the neoplasm, continued presence of carcinogen, or even nutritional deficiencies within the tumor. The acquired genetic instability and associated selection process, most readily recognized cytogenetically, results in advanced human malignancies being highly individual karyotypically and biologically. Hence, each patient's cancer may require individual specific therapy, and even this may be thwarted by emergence of a genetically variant subline resistant to the treatment. More research should be directed toward understanding and controlling the evolutionary process in tumors before it reaches the late stage usually seen in clinical cancer.
Keywords
clone (Java method)BiologyTumor cellsSomatic evolution in cancerNeoplasmCellGeneGeneticsTumor progressionSelection (genetic algorithm)Cancer research
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1976
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 194
- Issue
- 4260
- Pages
- 23-28
- Citations
- 6420
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Peter C. Nowell̀
(1976).
The Clonal Evolution of Tumor Cell Populations.
Science
, 194
(4260)
, 23-28.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.959840
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1126/science.959840