About this Research Topic
Cancers arise from somatic mutations in the genome. Understanding the formation of the somatic landscape is key to cancer precision medicine. Many studies report mutational signatures with underlying biological mechanisms which determine the heterogeneous clinical phenotypes, such as HRD, MMR, APOBEC activities. Yet, less is known how the somatic mutations are being selected and the formation of clonality of the cancer cells. Uncover the molecular basis of the somatic evolution of cancer will provide clues to better explain cancer progression, therapeutic efficacy and outcomes. With technological advances in high throughput sequencing, researchers are now able to gain deeper insight into the temporal and spatial dynamics of somatic evolution. Investigations into the molecular basis of somatic evolution will facilitate the identification of new cancer biomarkers and targets for therapy, which will further improve the clinical management of cancer.
The goal of this research topic is to identify molecular functions which influence the process of somatic evolution in cancer and thereby to inform diagnosis, prognosis and precision medicine. In order to achieve this goal, several questions are to be addressed in pan-cancer or cancer specific level. First, we need systematic assessment of the determinants of somatic evolution of cancer from different molecular levels including but not limited to genome, transcriptome, epigenome and proteome. Another important question is to understand the biological processes of the selection of somatic evolution. Particularly, we want to identify intra- and intercellular interactions that influence the formation of clonality of cancer. Based on these discoveries, clinical applicable stratification and diagnosis methods shall be developed and validated in cancer cohorts.
Novel mutational processes in cancer
Driver mutation/genes of the somatic evolution
Selection of novel mutations via interaction between tumor cells and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes
Somatic evolution drives tumor heterogeneity and metastasis
Predictive biomarkers of somatic evolution and the clinical implications
The goal of this research topic is to identify molecular functions which influence the process of somatic evolution in cancer and thereby to inform diagnosis, prognosis and precision medicine. In order to achieve this goal, several questions are to be addressed in pan-cancer or cancer specific level. First, we need systematic assessment of the determinants of somatic evolution of cancer from different molecular levels including but not limited to genome, transcriptome, epigenome and proteome. Another important question is to understand the biological processes of the selection of somatic evolution. Particularly, we want to identify intra- and intercellular interactions that influence the formation of clonality of cancer. Based on these discoveries, clinical applicable stratification and diagnosis methods shall be developed and validated in cancer cohorts.
Novel mutational processes in cancer
Driver mutation/genes of the somatic evolution
Selection of novel mutations via interaction between tumor cells and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes
Somatic evolution drives tumor heterogeneity and metastasis
Predictive biomarkers of somatic evolution and the clinical implications
Keywords: Somatic evolution, Mutation, Tumor clonality, Cancer precision medicine, Diagnosis
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
