Comprehending phenotypic plasticity in cancer and evolution

Abstract

Organisms as well as cancer cells are adept at adapting to changes in the environment in which they find themselves, by actively adjusting their phenotype. Phenotypic plasticity is a quantitative trait that confers a fitness advantage to the organism by tailoring its phenotype to environmental circumstances. While it is generally held that new traits arise solely from genetic factors, emerging evidence indicates that phenotypic plasticity also plays a critical role both in cancer and evolution. Thus, understanding the mechanisms that underlie phenotypic plasticity can not only provide new insights into organismal evolution and the origin of novelty but can also result in novel strategies and therapeutics to treat cancer.