Group Behavior and Emergence of Cancer Drug Resistance

Abstract

Drug resistance is a major impediment in cancer. Although it is generally thought that acquired drug resistance is due to genetic mutations, emerging evidence indicates that nongenetic mechanisms also play an important role. Resistance emerges through a complex interplay of clonal groups within a heterogeneous tumor and the surrounding microenvironment. Traits such as phenotypic plasticity, intercellular communication, and adaptive stress response, act in concert to ensure survival of intermediate reversible phenotypes, until permanent, resistant clones can emerge. Understanding the role of group behavior, and the underlying nongenetic mechanisms, can lead to more efficacious treatment designs and minimize or delay emergence of resistance.

Keywords: drug resistance; evolutionary game theory; group behavior; lung cancer; nongenetic mechanism; phenotypic switching.