tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456348657596914237.post397027853200953865..comments2024-03-28T03:23:34.100-04:00Comments on Eco-Evo Evo-Eco: Eco-evolutionary medicine: why cancer is differentBen Hallerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17875404974157070805noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456348657596914237.post-36650743737240794072014-04-10T09:31:29.134-04:002014-04-10T09:31:29.134-04:00On the train today I happened to read an article a...On the train today I happened to read an article about The Immortal Devil in Discover Magazine. It tells the story of a cancer that occurred in one Tasmanian Devil that evolved the ability to spread to other Devils, thus becoming a directly transmitted "parasite". This cancer/parasite thus breaks the above rule regarding "why cancer is different." That is, defensive mutations that arise in the cancer cells of one individual (one Devil) can, actually, be transmitted to other Devils. The cancer cell line has escaped the mortal coil of its host and become potentially immortal. Interestingly, this provides a potential route to evolved control. At present the cancer/parasite/infectious disease is much too virulent (killing almost every infected host) for its own good. Evolution should favor mutations in the cancer that reduce its virulence and perhaps lead to a permanent detente between the Devils and their new disease.Andrew Hendryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03653724437118653645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456348657596914237.post-2212358769556257612014-01-20T22:39:52.406-05:002014-01-20T22:39:52.406-05:00Indeed, yes. Wonderful stuff. Thanks for the hints...Indeed, yes. Wonderful stuff. Thanks for the hints.Andrew Hendryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03653724437118653645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456348657596914237.post-11568512403285683862014-01-20T22:39:13.459-05:002014-01-20T22:39:13.459-05:00Sorry for the late reply. I realize that viruses c...Sorry for the late reply. I realize that viruses can play a role in cancer, which then changes my main thesis that the evolutionary problem is different. However, it is also clear that many cancers do NOT involve viruses in which case my main thesis remains correct. Andrew Hendryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03653724437118653645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456348657596914237.post-67681475102055630862013-09-07T00:03:18.460-04:002013-09-07T00:03:18.460-04:00Having taught evolutionary medicine for three year...Having taught evolutionary medicine for three years at Taipei Medical University, I am somewhat surprised that you have not mentioned the possible role of viruses and other pathogens in the initial stages of cancer, see:<br /><br />TED Book: “Controlling Cancer” offers bold plan to stop a killer<br />http://blog.ted.com/2012/01/10/ted-book-controlling-cancer-offers-bold-plan-to-stop-a-killer/<br />Ewald PW, Ewald HAS (2012) Infection, mutation, and cancer evolution. J Mol Med 90: 535-541.<br />Ewald PW (2009) An evolutionary perspective on parasitism as a cause of cancer. Adv Parasitol 68: 21-43.<br /><br />Other excellent, more general texts, are:<br />Gluckman P, Beedle A, Hanson M (2009) Principles of evolutionary medicine: Oxford University Press.<br />Nesse RM, Williams GC (1994) Why we get sick. The new science of Darwinian Medicine. New York: Times Books.<br />Stearns SC, editor (1999) Evolution in health and disease: Oxford University Press.<br />Stearns SC, Koella JC, editors (2008) Evolution in health and disease. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.<br />Trevathan WR, Smith EO, McKenna JJ, editors (1999) Evolutionary medicine. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.<br />Trevathan WR, Smith EO, McKenna JJ, editors (2008) Evolutionary medicine and health: New perspectives. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.<br />Nesse RM, Stearns SC (2008) The great opportunity: Evolutionary applications to medicine and public health. Evol Applic 1: 28-48.<br />Greaves M (2007) Darwinian medicine: a case for cancer. Nature Rev Cancer 7: 213-221.<br />Merlo LMF, Pepper JW, Reid BJ, Maley CC (2006) Cancer as an evolutionary and ecological process. Nature Rev Cancer 6: 924-935.<br />Crespi B, Summers K (2005) Evolutionary biology of cancer. Trends Ecol Evol 20: 545-552.<br />Campisia J (2005) Aging, tumor suppression and cancer: high wire-act! Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 126: 51-58.<br />Campisia J (2003) Cancer and ageing: rival demons? Nature Rev Cancer 3: 339-349.<br /><br />Best regards, Bruno Walther<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05368201851093526195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456348657596914237.post-91260777306202687642013-09-05T19:53:07.892-04:002013-09-05T19:53:07.892-04:00You would enjoy "Cancer: The Evolutionary Leg...You would enjoy "Cancer: The Evolutionary Legacy" by Mel Greaves, from the London Institute of Cancer Research. Authoritative, readable, fascinating. Also, there was a fabulous conference in June at UCSF on evolution and cancer. Details and videos here http://cancer.ucsf.edu/evolution/conference-2013<br />More links at The Evolution and Medicine Review http://evemedreview.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02383002966349671336noreply@blogger.com