Tuyển tập các báo cáo nghiên cứu về y học được đăng trên tạp chí y học quốc tế cung cấp cho các bạn kiến thức về ngành y đề tài:Population genetics of cancer cell clones: possible implications of cancer stem cells. | Naugler Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling 2010 7 42 http content 7 1 42 THEORETICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICAL MODELLING RESEARCH Open Access Population genetics of cancer cell clones possible implications of cancer stem cells Christopher T Naugler Correspondence Christopher. naugler@ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine University of Calgary and Calgary Laboratory Services C414 Diagnostic and Scientific Centre 9 3535 Research Road NW Calgary AB T2L 2K8 Canada 2 BioMed Central Abstract Background The population dynamics of the various clones of cancer cells existing within a tumour is complex and still poorly understood. Cancer cell clones can be conceptualized as sympatric asexual species and as such the application of theoretical population genetics as it pertains to asexual species may provide additional insights. Results The number of generations of tumour cells within a cancer has been estimated at a minimum of 40 but high cancer cell mortality rates suggest that the number of cell generations may actually be in the hundreds. Such a large number of generations would easily allow natural selection to drive clonal evolution assuming that selective advantages of individual clones are within the range reported for free-living animal species. Tumour cell clonal evolution could also be driven by variation in the intrinsic rates of increase of different clones or by genetic drift. In every scenario examined the presence of cancer stem cells would require lower selection pressure or less variation in intrinsic rates of increase. Conclusions The presence of cancer stem cells may result in more rapid clonal evolution. Specific predictions from theoretical population genetics may lead to a greater understanding of this process. Background Cancers have been referred to as microcosms of evolution 1 2 different genetic clones within a given cancer mutate compete and evolve resulting in the final outcome of a malignant neoplasm. A number
