Advances in tumor subclone formation and mechanisms of growth and invasion
Abstract Tumor subclones refer to distinct cell populations within the same tumor that possess different genetic characteristics. They play a crucial role in understanding tumor heterogeneity, evolution, and therapeutic resistance. The formation of tumor subclones is driven by several key mechanisms...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Translational Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06486-3 |
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| author | Yuhong Zhang Weidong Wang |
| author_facet | Yuhong Zhang Weidong Wang |
| author_sort | Yuhong Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Tumor subclones refer to distinct cell populations within the same tumor that possess different genetic characteristics. They play a crucial role in understanding tumor heterogeneity, evolution, and therapeutic resistance. The formation of tumor subclones is driven by several key mechanisms, including the inherent genetic instability of tumor cells, which facilitates the accumulation of novel mutations; selective pressures from the tumor microenvironment and therapeutic interventions, which promote the expansion of certain subclones; and epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, which alter gene expression patterns. Major methodologies for studying tumor subclones include single-cell sequencing, liquid biopsy, and spatial transcriptomics, which provide insights into clonal architecture and dynamic evolution. Beyond their direct involvement in tumor growth and invasion, subclones significantly contribute to tumor heterogeneity, immune evasion, and treatment resistance. Thus, an in-depth investigation of tumor subclones not only aids in guiding personalized precision therapy, overcoming drug resistance, and identifying novel therapeutic targets, but also enhances our ability to predict recurrence and metastasis risks while elucidating the mechanisms underlying tumor heterogeneity. The integration of artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and multi-omics technologies is expected to further advance research in tumor subclones, paving the way for novel strategies in cancer diagnosis and treatment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of tumor subclone formation mechanisms, evolutionary models, analytical methods, and clinical implications, offering insights into precision oncology and future translational research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5ed8b587901e48aaad8022fa894d48bc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1479-5876 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Translational Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-5ed8b587901e48aaad8022fa894d48bc2025-08-20T03:15:10ZengBMCJournal of Translational Medicine1479-58762025-04-0123111210.1186/s12967-025-06486-3Advances in tumor subclone formation and mechanisms of growth and invasionYuhong Zhang0Weidong Wang1Department of Oncology, Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical UniversityDepartment of Oncology, Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical UniversityAbstract Tumor subclones refer to distinct cell populations within the same tumor that possess different genetic characteristics. They play a crucial role in understanding tumor heterogeneity, evolution, and therapeutic resistance. The formation of tumor subclones is driven by several key mechanisms, including the inherent genetic instability of tumor cells, which facilitates the accumulation of novel mutations; selective pressures from the tumor microenvironment and therapeutic interventions, which promote the expansion of certain subclones; and epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, which alter gene expression patterns. Major methodologies for studying tumor subclones include single-cell sequencing, liquid biopsy, and spatial transcriptomics, which provide insights into clonal architecture and dynamic evolution. Beyond their direct involvement in tumor growth and invasion, subclones significantly contribute to tumor heterogeneity, immune evasion, and treatment resistance. Thus, an in-depth investigation of tumor subclones not only aids in guiding personalized precision therapy, overcoming drug resistance, and identifying novel therapeutic targets, but also enhances our ability to predict recurrence and metastasis risks while elucidating the mechanisms underlying tumor heterogeneity. The integration of artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and multi-omics technologies is expected to further advance research in tumor subclones, paving the way for novel strategies in cancer diagnosis and treatment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of tumor subclone formation mechanisms, evolutionary models, analytical methods, and clinical implications, offering insights into precision oncology and future translational research.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06486-3Tumor subclonesClonal evolutionGenomic instabilityIntratumoral heterogeneityPhylogenetic analysisMulti-omics integration |
| spellingShingle | Yuhong Zhang Weidong Wang Advances in tumor subclone formation and mechanisms of growth and invasion Journal of Translational Medicine Tumor subclones Clonal evolution Genomic instability Intratumoral heterogeneity Phylogenetic analysis Multi-omics integration |
| title | Advances in tumor subclone formation and mechanisms of growth and invasion |
| title_full | Advances in tumor subclone formation and mechanisms of growth and invasion |
| title_fullStr | Advances in tumor subclone formation and mechanisms of growth and invasion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advances in tumor subclone formation and mechanisms of growth and invasion |
| title_short | Advances in tumor subclone formation and mechanisms of growth and invasion |
| title_sort | advances in tumor subclone formation and mechanisms of growth and invasion |
| topic | Tumor subclones Clonal evolution Genomic instability Intratumoral heterogeneity Phylogenetic analysis Multi-omics integration |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06486-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yuhongzhang advancesintumorsubcloneformationandmechanismsofgrowthandinvasion AT weidongwang advancesintumorsubcloneformationandmechanismsofgrowthandinvasion |