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Group phenotypic composition in cancer

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journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-19, 02:09 authored by JP Capp, J Degregori, AM Nedelcu, Antoine DujonAntoine Dujon, J Boutry, P Pujol, C Alix-Panabières, R Hamede, B Roche, Beata UjvariBeata Ujvari, A Marusyk, R Gatenby, F Thomas
Although individual cancer cells are generally considered the Darwinian units of selection in malignant populations, they frequently act as members of groups where fitness of the group cannot be reduced to the average fitness of individual group members. A growing body of studies reveals limitations of reductionist approaches to explaining biological and clinical observations. For example, induction of angiogenesis, inhibition of the immune system, and niche engineering through environmental acidification and/or remodeling of extracellular matrix cannot be achieved by single tumor cells and require collective actions of groups of cells. Success or failure of such group activities depends on the phenotypic makeup of the individual group members. Conversely, these group activities affect the fitness of individual members of the group, ultimately affecting the composition of the group. This phenomenon, where phenotypic makeup of individual group members impacts the fitness of both members and groups, has been captured in the term ‘group phenotypic composition’ (GPC). We provide examples where considerations of GPC could help in understanding the evolution and clinical progression of cancers and argue that use of the GPC framework can facilitate new insights into cancer biology and assist with the development of new therapeutic strategies.

History

Journal

eLife

Volume

10

Article number

ARTN e63518

Pagination

1 - 20

Location

England

Open access

  • Yes

ISSN

2050-084X

eISSN

2050-084X

Language

English

Publication classification

C Journal article, C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Publisher

eLIFE SCIENCES PUBL LTD