Work

Connecting Cancer to Its Causes Requires Incorporation of Effects on Tissue Microenvironments

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: In a recent article in Science, Tomasetti and colleagues present an expanded model for cancer risk, which they claim demonstrates the relative contribution of mutations caused by replication errors, environment, and heredity. The foundation of this model is the theory that the overwhelming driver of cancer risk is mutations. This perspective will present experimental evidence and evolutionary theory to challenge the basis of this underlying theory. An argument will be presented that the mutation-centric model of cancer suggests unrealistic solutions to cancer and distracts the research community from more promising approaches that consider tissue context. Cancer Res; 77(22); 6065–8. ©2017 AACR.

Source: Cancer Research

DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1207

Author: James DeGregori

Institution: University of Colorado Anschutz

Language: English

Topic: Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics

Subfield: Cancer Research

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute