Grunewald, Thomas G. P. and Herbst, Saskia M. and Heinze, Juergen and Burdach, Stefan (2011) Understanding tumor heterogeneity as functional compartments - superorganisms revisited. JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE, 9: 79. ISSN 1479-5876
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Compelling evidence broadens our understanding of tumors as highly heterogeneous populations derived from one common progenitor. In this review we portray various stages of tumorigenesis, tumor progression, self-seeding and metastasis in analogy to the superorganisms of insect societies to exemplify the highly complex architecture of a neoplasm as a system of functional "castes." Accordingly, we propose a model in which clonal expansion and cumulative acquisition of genetic alterations produce tumor compartments each equipped with distinct traits and thus distinct functions that cooperate to establish clinically apparent tumors. This functional compartment model also suggests mechanisms for the self-construction of tumor stem cell niches. Thus, thinking of a tumor as a superorganism will provide systemic insight into its functional compartmentalization and may even have clinical implications.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | CANCER STEM-CELLS; BREAST-CANCER; VASCULOGENIC MIMICRY; GENETICAL EVOLUTION; IMMUNE SURVEILLANCE; SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR; 1ST REPORT; METASTASIS; GROWTH; ANT; |
| Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Humangenetik Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Zoologie > Zoologie/Evolutionsbiologie (Prof. Dr. Jürgen Heinze) |
| Depositing User: | Petra Gürster |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Apr 2020 07:35 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Apr 2020 07:35 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/20797 |
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