Open AccessIdentifying key questions in the ecology and evolution of cancer
Author(s) -
Dujon Antoine M.,
Aktipis Athena,
AlixPanabières Catherine,
Amend Sarah R.,
Boddy Amy M.,
Brown Joel S.,
Capp JeanPascal,
DeGregori James,
Ewald Paul,
Gatenby Robert,
Gerlinger Marco,
Giraudeau Mathieu,
Hamede Rodrigo K.,
Hansen Elsa,
Kareva Irina,
Maley Carlo C.,
Marusyk Andriy,
McGranahan Nicholas,
Metzger Michael J.,
Nedelcu Aurora M.,
Noble Robert,
Nunney Leonard,
Pienta Kenneth J.,
Polyak Kornelia,
Pujol Pascal,
Read Andrew F.,
Roche Benjamin,
Sebens Susanne,
Solary Eric,
Staňková Kateřina,
Swain Ewald Holly,
Thomas Frédéric,
Ujvari Beata
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
evolutionary applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 68
ISSN - 1752-4571
DOI - 10.1111/eva.13190
Subject(s) - biology , ecology , key (lock) , portfolio , field (mathematics) , evolutionary medicine , discipline , evolutionary ecology , interface (matter) , selection (genetic algorithm) , engineering ethics , management science , computer science , sociology , evolutionary biology , artificial intelligence , social science , engineering , pulmonary surfactant , gibbs isotherm , biochemistry , mathematics , financial economics , pure mathematics , economics , host (biology)
The application of evolutionary and ecological principles to cancer prevention and treatment, as well as recognizing cancer as a selection force in nature, has gained impetus over the last 50 years. Following the initial theoretical approaches that combined knowledge from interdisciplinary fields, it became clear that using the eco‐evolutionary framework is of key importance to understand cancer. We are now at a pivotal point where accumulating evidence starts to steer the future directions of the discipline and allows us to underpin the key challenges that remain to be addressed. Here, we aim to assess current advancements in the field and to suggest future directions for research. First, we summarize cancer research areas that, so far, have assimilated ecological and evolutionary principles into their approaches and illustrate their key importance. Then, we assembled 33 experts and identified 84 key questions, organized around nine major themes, to pave the foundations for research to come. We highlight the urgent need for broadening the portfolio of research directions to stimulate novel approaches at the interface of oncology and ecological and evolutionary sciences. We conclude that progressive and efficient cross‐disciplinary collaborations that draw on the expertise of the fields of ecology, evolution and cancer are essential in order to efficiently address current and future questions about cancer.