What Do We Gain from Viewing Cancer through an Eco-Evo Lens?
This chapter summarizes the main points of the prior chapters, discusses the benefits of incorporating ecological and evolutionary perspectives into research and treatment of cancer, and highlights gaps in our knowledge. In particular, the chapter discusses why cancer research must consider the complex ecological niches within which the cancer species reside. Novel treatment paradigms, such as immune checkpoint blockade, that capitalize on these interactions between the cancer and its environment exemplify the importance of understanding these interactions between cancer cells and its surrounding environment. Likewise, innovative strategies that leverage evolutionary and ecological approaches to steer cancer cell populations to double binds or that take advantage of competition between cancer cells also illustrate the utility of understanding cancer evolution and ecology for new and untapped treatments. The chapter concludes with a call to improve dialogue and collaboration between ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and cancer researchers in order to better understand and treat cancer within these ecological and evolutionary perspectives.
