Abstract

Neoplasms are microcosms of evolution. Within a neoplasm, a mosaic of mutant cells compete for space and resources, evade predation by the immune system and can even cooperate to disperse and colonize new organs. The evolution of neoplastic cells explains both why we get cancer and why it has been so difficult to cure. The tools of evolutionary biology and ecology are providing new insights into neoplastic progression and the clinical control of cancer.

Author affiliations

1. Cellular and Molecular Oncology Program, The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
2. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Biological Sciences West, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
3. Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, PO BOX 19024, Seattle, Washington 98109, and Departments of Medicine and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.

Correspondence to: Carlo C. Maley¹ Email: cmaley@alum.mit.edu

Published online 16 November 2006

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