title: Big Bang and context-driven collapse.
abstract: Heterogeneity is the single most important factor driving cancer progression and treatment failure, yet little is understood about how and when this heterogeneity arises. A new study shows that colorectal cancers acquire their dominant mutations early in development and that subsequent mutations, even if they confer greater fitness, are unlikely to sweep through the tumor.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robertson-Tessi
authors.affiliation: Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander R A
authors.identifier: 0000000225364383
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological