Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Origin of Tumor Heterogeneity and Plasticity
In many respects, heterogeneity is one of the most striking revelations and common manifestations of a stem cell origin of cancer. We observe heterogeneity in myriad mixed tumors including testicular, lung, and breast cancers. We recognize heterogeneity in diverse tumor subtypes in prostate and kidn...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/16/4006 |
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| author | Shi-Ming Tu Miao Zhang Christopher G. Wood Louis L. Pisters |
| author_facet | Shi-Ming Tu Miao Zhang Christopher G. Wood Louis L. Pisters |
| author_sort | Shi-Ming Tu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In many respects, heterogeneity is one of the most striking revelations and common manifestations of a stem cell origin of cancer. We observe heterogeneity in myriad mixed tumors including testicular, lung, and breast cancers. We recognize heterogeneity in diverse tumor subtypes in prostate and kidney cancers. From this perspective, we illustrate that one of the main stem-ness characteristics, i.e., the ability to differentiate into diverse and multiple lineages, is central to tumor heterogeneity. We postulate that cancer subtypes can be meaningless and useless without a proper theory about cancer’s stem cell versus genetic origin and nature. We propose a unified theory of cancer in which the same genetic abnormalities, epigenetic defects, and microenvironmental aberrations cause different effects and lead to different outcomes in a progenitor stem cell versus a mature progeny cell. We need to recognize that an all-encompassing genetic theory of cancer may be incomplete and obsolete. A stem cell theory of cancer provides greater universality, interconnectivity, and utility. Although genetic defects are pivotal, cellular context is paramount. When it concerns tumor heterogeneity, perhaps we need to revisit the conventional wisdom of precision medicine and revise our current practice of targeted therapy in cancer care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:58:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f63dc9d801554ea5a0c58982f8f758d2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:58:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-f63dc9d801554ea5a0c58982f8f758d22023-11-22T07:02:23ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942021-08-011316400610.3390/cancers13164006Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Origin of Tumor Heterogeneity and PlasticityShi-Ming Tu0Miao Zhang1Christopher G. Wood2Louis L. Pisters3Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USADepartment of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USADepartment of Urology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USADepartment of Urology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USAIn many respects, heterogeneity is one of the most striking revelations and common manifestations of a stem cell origin of cancer. We observe heterogeneity in myriad mixed tumors including testicular, lung, and breast cancers. We recognize heterogeneity in diverse tumor subtypes in prostate and kidney cancers. From this perspective, we illustrate that one of the main stem-ness characteristics, i.e., the ability to differentiate into diverse and multiple lineages, is central to tumor heterogeneity. We postulate that cancer subtypes can be meaningless and useless without a proper theory about cancer’s stem cell versus genetic origin and nature. We propose a unified theory of cancer in which the same genetic abnormalities, epigenetic defects, and microenvironmental aberrations cause different effects and lead to different outcomes in a progenitor stem cell versus a mature progeny cell. We need to recognize that an all-encompassing genetic theory of cancer may be incomplete and obsolete. A stem cell theory of cancer provides greater universality, interconnectivity, and utility. Although genetic defects are pivotal, cellular context is paramount. When it concerns tumor heterogeneity, perhaps we need to revisit the conventional wisdom of precision medicine and revise our current practice of targeted therapy in cancer care.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/16/4006tumor heterogeneitycancer subtypescancer stem cellsunified theoryclonal originprecision medicine |
| spellingShingle | Shi-Ming Tu Miao Zhang Christopher G. Wood Louis L. Pisters Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Origin of Tumor Heterogeneity and Plasticity Cancers tumor heterogeneity cancer subtypes cancer stem cells unified theory clonal origin precision medicine |
| title | Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Origin of Tumor Heterogeneity and Plasticity |
| title_full | Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Origin of Tumor Heterogeneity and Plasticity |
| title_fullStr | Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Origin of Tumor Heterogeneity and Plasticity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Origin of Tumor Heterogeneity and Plasticity |
| title_short | Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Origin of Tumor Heterogeneity and Plasticity |
| title_sort | stem cell theory of cancer origin of tumor heterogeneity and plasticity |
| topic | tumor heterogeneity cancer subtypes cancer stem cells unified theory clonal origin precision medicine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/16/4006 |
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