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Questions to guide cancer evolution as a framework for furthering progress in cancer research and sustainable patient outcomes.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Somarelli, JA; DeGregori, J; Gerlinger, M; Heng, HH; Marusyk, A; Welch, DR; Laukien, FH
Published in: Med Oncol
July 4, 2022

We appear to be faced with 'two truths' in cancer-one of major advances and successes and another one of remaining short-comings and significant challenges. Despite decades of research and substantial progress in treating cancer, most patients with metastatic cancer still experience great suffering and poor outcomes. Metastatic cancer, for the vast majority of patients, remains incurable. In the context of advanced disease, many clinical trials report only incremental advances in progression-free and overall survival. At the same time, the breadth and depth of new scientific discoveries in cancer research are staggering. These discoveries are providing increasing mechanistic detail into the inner workings of normal and cancer cells, as well as into cancer-host interactions; however, progress remains frustratingly slow in translating these discoveries into improved diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic interventions. Despite enormous advances in cancer research and progress in progression-free survival, or even cures, for certain cancer types-with earlier detection followed by surgical, adjuvant, targeted, or immuno- therapies, we must challenge ourselves to do even better where patients do not respond or experience evolving therapy resistance. We propose that defining cancer evolution as a separate domain of study and integrating the concept of evolvability as a core hallmark of cancer can help position scientific discoveries into a framework that can be more effectively harnessed to improve cancer detection and therapy outcomes and to eventually decrease cancer lethality. In this perspective, we present key questions and suggested areas of study that must be considered-not only by the field of cancer evolution, but by all investigators researching, diagnosing, and treating cancer.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Med Oncol

DOI

EISSN

1559-131X

Publication Date

July 4, 2022

Volume

39

Issue

9

Start / End Page

137

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Prognosis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Neoplasms
  • Humans
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
  • 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

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Somarelli, J. A., DeGregori, J., Gerlinger, M., Heng, H. H., Marusyk, A., Welch, D. R., & Laukien, F. H. (2022). Questions to guide cancer evolution as a framework for furthering progress in cancer research and sustainable patient outcomes. Med Oncol, 39(9), 137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-022-01721-z
Somarelli, Jason A., James DeGregori, Marco Gerlinger, Henry H. Heng, Andriy Marusyk, Danny R. Welch, and Frank H. Laukien. “Questions to guide cancer evolution as a framework for furthering progress in cancer research and sustainable patient outcomes.Med Oncol 39, no. 9 (July 4, 2022): 137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-022-01721-z.
Somarelli JA, DeGregori J, Gerlinger M, Heng HH, Marusyk A, Welch DR, et al. Questions to guide cancer evolution as a framework for furthering progress in cancer research and sustainable patient outcomes. Med Oncol. 2022 Jul 4;39(9):137.
Somarelli, Jason A., et al. “Questions to guide cancer evolution as a framework for furthering progress in cancer research and sustainable patient outcomes.Med Oncol, vol. 39, no. 9, July 2022, p. 137. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s12032-022-01721-z.
Somarelli JA, DeGregori J, Gerlinger M, Heng HH, Marusyk A, Welch DR, Laukien FH. Questions to guide cancer evolution as a framework for furthering progress in cancer research and sustainable patient outcomes. Med Oncol. 2022 Jul 4;39(9):137.
Journal cover image

Published In

Med Oncol

DOI

EISSN

1559-131X

Publication Date

July 4, 2022

Volume

39

Issue

9

Start / End Page

137

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Prognosis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Neoplasms
  • Humans
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
  • 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences