Heterogeneity in cancer

The basic function of cells is to maintain a balance between proliferation and programmed cell death, which allows the cell to perform its specific function. This activity fits closely, partly with neighboring cells and partly with the intercellular population. Errors can occur in the regulation of all this, of course mutations are the most common. Some of these can cause disturbances in cell life, but most mutations do not play an important role. It is well known to distinguish between benignity and malignancy, of which metastasis of tumor cells is the real danger (in fact, a tumor can be considered malignant clinically if it forms metastasis in hematological tumors rather than solids) and this polyclonality interferes with cellular function. It is understandable, therefore, that these two phenomena, metastasis and selection, can be considered the primary targets of therapy. Heterogeneity plays an important role in cell life.