title: Mutation selection and tumour progression.
abstract: It is proposed that tumour progression results from the increased mutability of tumour cells and that this mutability leads to the acquisition of a large number of 'neutral' mutations having no significant effects under physiological conditions but capable of lethal expression under different conditions. High temperatures often lead to expression of neutral mutations and this could provide a mechanism for the observed thermosensitivity of tumour cells, and a rational basis for the use of hyperthermia in cancer treatment.
mesh_terms: D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D012641:Selection, Genetic
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins