Tumour heterogeneity and cancer cell plasticity

Nature. 2013 Sep 19;501(7467):328-37. doi: 10.1038/nature12624.

Abstract

Phenotypic and functional heterogeneity arise among cancer cells within the same tumour as a consequence of genetic change, environmental differences and reversible changes in cell properties. Some cancers also contain a hierarchy in which tumorigenic cancer stem cells differentiate into non-tumorigenic progeny. However, it remains unclear what fraction of cancers follow the stem-cell model and what clinical behaviours the model explains. Studies using lineage tracing and deep sequencing could have implications for the cancer stem-cell model and may help to determine the extent to which it accounts for therapy resistance and disease progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
  • Clonal Evolution
  • Disease Progression*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Genetic Heterogeneity
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology