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Life history trade-offs in cancer evolution

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 13, pages 883–892 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Somatic evolution during cancer progression and therapy results in tumour cells that show a wide range of phenotypes, which include rapid proliferation and quiescence. Evolutionary life history theory may help us to understand the diversity of these phenotypes. Fast life history organisms reproduce rapidly, whereas those with slow life histories show less fecundity and invest more resources in survival. Life history theory also provides an evolutionary framework for phenotypic plasticity, which has potential implications for understanding 'cancer stem cells'. Life history theory suggests that different therapy dosing schedules might select for fast or slow life history cell phenotypes, with important clinical consequences.

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Figure 1: Hallmarks of cancer that are associated with life history selection.
Figure 2: Tumour heterogeneity.
Figure 3: Resource limitation and escape during progression.
Figure 4: Trade-offs between proliferation and survival during cancer progression.
Figure 5: Effects of treatment on life history strategies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank A. Nedelcu, A. Caulin and A. J. Figuredo for thoughtful and thought-provoking discussions during the development of these ideas. This work was supported in part by Research Scholar Grant number 117209-RSG-09-163-01-CNE from the American Cancer Society, by US National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants F32 CA144331, R01 CA149566, R01 CA170595, R01 CA140657 and U54 CA143970, and by a grant from the McDonnell Foundation 220020270.

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  1. Center for Evolution and Cancer and the Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, 2340 Sutter Street, BOX 1351, San Francisco, 94143–1351, California, USA

    C. Athena Aktipis, Amy M. Boddy & Carlo C. Maley

  2. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, PO Box 871104, Tempe, 85287–1104, Arizona, USA

    C. Athena Aktipis

  3. H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, 33612, Florida, USA

    Robert A. Gatenby

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, 60607, Illinois, USA

    Joel S. Brown

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Aktipis, C., Boddy, A., Gatenby, R. et al. Life history trade-offs in cancer evolution. Nat Rev Cancer 13, 883–892 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3606

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