Metaphors and concepts (1)

It was immediately clear to me from initial conversations with researchers how closely tied the idea of a cancer ecosystem is to basic Darwinian principles. So the first set of ideas that I am highlighting here are those that many of us learned when coming across the idea of evolution in the first place – such common knowledge that we take many of these ideas and their applications for granted.

Concepts in cancer ecosystem

One of the first things that came up in a couple of conversations with research scientists was for them to double-check that I understood the importance of the three basic ideas from the Darwinian theory of evolution. In the context of cancer research, however, these Darwinian ideas have context specific nuance. I have made notes of my own understanding of what these terms suggest in cancer science. (As ever, any errors are fully due to my own interpretation….)

“Heterogeneity“

Variety within the cancer in terms of different types of cell – in particular this can be spatial (ie cells vary due to situation in different places in a tumour) or evolutionary (cells occur at different times in the life of a cancer)

“Fitness“

The ability of certain cell genotypes or phenotypes to reproduce and survive in certain environments – for example a certain cancer cell pheno- or genotype might survive oxygen-deprived conditions better than another cancer cell within the same tumour

“Selection“

Darwinian principle that the fittest cells in a particular context will go on to reproduce and dominate the population – in terms of a cancer, different cell pheno- or genotypes will survive more successfully in different parts of the tumour, for example, and will reproduce there whilst others fail to thrive.

Relevance to the ecosystem of the LCH

These three basic evolutionary principles can easily be applied to working life within organisations also. Heterogeneity could be thought of as some kind of parallel to diversity in a working environment. Selection is a common organisational idea, whether for recruitment or promotion, and often governs people’s progress or longevity in a role or career. And this selection often happens informally as well as through formal process – many practices which can result in either privilege or discrimination in working (or other) settings are grounded in informal selection practices. And the related concept ‘survival of the fittest’ is not unfamiliar either, and I’m sure informs portrayals of workplaces as part of popular culture. I am reminded of a film with George Clooney about ‘downsizing’ but can’t quite remember what it’s called and whether survival of the fittest is ever specifically mentioned – my next job is to google that….