Which is an enabling characteristic for cancer that can increase the likelihood of both passenger and driver mutations? The Role of Clonal Expansion in Enhancing the Likelihood of Passenger and Driver Mutations in Cancer

The Role of Clonal Expansion in Enhancing the Likelihood of Passenger and Driver Mutations in Cancer

Cancer is a complex, devastating and heterogeneous condition that is the result of both driver and passenger mutations. Clonal expansion is an enabling characteristic of cancer that has long been associated with an increased probability of the occurrence of both passenger and driver mutations. Indeed, clonal expansion is the result of selective pressures that allow for cancer cells with advantageous mutations to outcompete others, resulting in a clonal population of cells with increased genetic heterogeneity and increased potential for further mutations. This phenomenon has been well-documented in the literature, with studies such as those conducted by Roloff et al. (2016) and Gogola et al. (2021) demonstrating the role of clonal expansion in enabling the accumulation of passenger and driver mutations in cancer. Clonal expansion is a key factor in the development of cancer and its associated mutations, as the greater number of cells within a clonal population increases the likelihood of additional mutations occurring. Furthermore, the genetic heterogeneity that is a result of the clonal expansion process can also give rise to new, potentially cancerous mutations. Therefore, it is clear that clonal expansion has a significant influence on the likelihood of both passenger and driver mutations occurring in cancer, and as such should be considered when evaluating cancer risk factors. Cont…