Phenotypic noise and plasticity in cancer evolution.
Date
2023-11-13Author
Whiting, FJH
Househam, J
Baker, A-M
Sottoriva, A
Graham, TA
Type
Journal Article
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Non-genetic alterations can produce changes in a cell's phenotype. In cancer, these phenomena can influence a cell's fitness by conferring access to heritable, beneficial phenotypes. Herein, we argue that current discussions of 'phenotypic plasticity' in cancer evolution ignore a salient feature of the original definition: namely, that it occurs in response to an environmental change. We suggest 'phenotypic noise' be used to distinguish non-genetic changes in phenotype that occur independently from the environment. We discuss the conceptual and methodological techniques used to identify these phenomena during cancer evolution. We propose that the distinction will guide efforts to define mechanisms of phenotype change, accelerate translational work to manipulate phenotypes through treatment, and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.
Collections
Subject
cancer
evolution
noise
phenotype
plasticity
Research team
Genomics & evolut dynam
Cancer Genomics
Language
eng
Date accepted
2023-10-04
License start date
2023-11-13
Citation
Trends in Cell Biology, 2023, pp. S0962-8924(23)00206-4 -
Publisher
Elsevier BV