A Historical Perspective on Cancer

TL;DR

This paper explores the evolutionary origins of cancer, suggesting it results from the breakdown of control mechanisms developed during the transition to multicellularity, and proposes comparative genomics as a way to identify intervention targets.

Contribution

It offers a historical and evolutionary perspective on cancer, emphasizing the importance of universal control mechanisms and proposing comparative genomics for identifying therapeutic targets.

Findings

Cancer stems from loss of control mechanisms in multicellularity

Comparative genomics can identify intervention sites

Evolutionary perspective informs cancer treatment strategies

Abstract

It is proposed that cancer results from the breakdown of universal control mechanisms which developed in mutual association as part of the historical process that brought individual cells together into multi-cellular communities. By systematically comparing the genomes of uni-celled with multi-celled organisms, one might be able to identify the most promising sites for intervention aimed at restoring the damaged control mechanisms and thereby arresting the cancer.