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The evolutionary landscape of colorectal tumorigenesis

Abstract:
The evolutionary events that cause colorectal adenomas (benign) to progress to carcinomas (malignant) remain largely undetermined. Using multi-region genome and exome sequencing of 24 benign and malignant colorectal tumours, we investigate the evolutionary fitness landscape occupied by these neoplasms. Unlike carcinomas, advanced adenomas frequently harbour sub-clonal driver mutations—considered to be functionally important in the carcinogenic process—that have not swept to fixation, and have relatively high genetic heterogeneity. Carcinomas are distinguished from adenomas by widespread aneusomies that are usually clonal and often accrue in a ‘punctuated’ fashion. We conclude that adenomas evolve across an undulating fitness landscape, whereas carcinomas occupy a sharper fitness peak, probably owing to stabilizing selection.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41559-018-0642-z

Authors

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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
Medical Sciences Division
Department:
NDM; Human Genetics Wt Centre
Role:
Author
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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-0165-292X
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
Medical Sciences Division
Department:
NDM; Human Genetics Wt Centre
Role:
Author



Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Nature Ecology and Evolution More from this journal
Volume:
2
Pages:
1661–1672
Publication date:
2018-08-31
Acceptance date:
2018-07-12
DOI:
ISSN:
2397-334X
Pmid:
30177804


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:914597
UUID:
uuid:a2ce9a44-8d14-4d13-9f21-a82192e1e16a
Local pid:
pubs:914597
Source identifiers:
914597
Deposit date:
2018-09-14
ARK identifier:

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