Rethinking the Evolutionary Origin, Function, and Treatment of Cancer

Abstract

Despite remarkable progress in basic oncology, practical results remain unsatisfactory. This discrepancy is partly due to the exclusive focus on processes within the cancer cell, which results in a lack of recognition of cancer as a systemic disease. It is evident that a wise balance is needed between two alternative methodological approaches: reductionism, which would break down complex phenomena into smaller units to be studied separately, and holism, which emphasizes the study of complex systems as integrated wholes. A consistent holistic approach has so far led to the notion of cancer as a special organ, stimulating debate about its function and evolutionary significance. This article discusses the role of cancer as a mechanism of purifying selection of the gene pool, the correlation between hereditary and sporadic cancer, the cancer interactome, and the role of metastasis in a lethal outcome. It is also proposed that neutralizing the cancer interactome may be a novel treatment strategy.