Tumour tissue: heterogeneous, but not disordered

Abstract

Recent multidimensional molecular profiling advances have begun to match the complexity of cancer, revolutionizing our appreciation of tumours as complex ecosystems. In this Comment, Grünwald and Khokha call for a shift in comprehension of tumour tissue organization; while tumour tissues are heterogeneous, they are not disordered, and, like all multicellular entities, they propagate their functions via a considerable level of self-organization. Multidimensional molecular profiling advances have begun to match the complexity of cancer, and tumours are now seen as complex ecosystems. We postulate that a shift in comprehension is needed to synthesize actionable insights — tumour tissues are heterogeneous but not disordered and propagate their functions by a considerable level of self-organization.