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Darwinian medicine: a case for cancer

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 7, pages 213–221 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Epidemiological, genetic and molecular biological studies have collectively provided us with a rich source of data that underpins our current understanding of the aetiology and molecular pathogenesis of cancer. But this perspective focuses on proximate mechanisms, and does not provide an adequate explanation for the prevalence of tumours and cancer in animal species or what seems to be the striking vulnerability of Homo sapiens. The central precept of Darwinian medicine is that vulnerability to cancer, and other major diseases, arises at least in part as a consequence of the 'design' limitations, compromises and trade-offs that characterize evolutionary processes.

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Figure 1: The cancer lottery.
Figure 2: Programmed stem cell behaviour and cancer risk.
Figure 3: The cancer lottery: an evolutionary heritage.

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Acknowledgements

The author is supported by The Institute of Cancer Research, and thanks B. Deverson for help with manuscript preparation and R. Nesse for helpful comments and suggestions.

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  1. Mel Greaves is at the Section of Haemato-Oncology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK. mel.greaves@icr.ac.uk,

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Greaves, M. Darwinian medicine: a case for cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 7, 213–221 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc2071

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