title: Tumor Heterogeneity--A 'Contemporary Concept' Founded on Historical Insights and Predictions.
abstract: Heterogeneity is commonplace in all cancer types and at several levels--intrinsic (genetic), epigenetic, positional, and at the population level. The different subpopulations with a tumor mass communicate with each other and influence the behavior of other tumor cells both locally and at a distance. These properties have profound implications regarding the understanding of tumor behavior and how therapies are (or should be) administered. This brief commentary highlights the insightful review of Gloria Heppner and how it has influenced cancer research even three decades after it was published.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. Department of Pathology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. The University of Kansas Cancer Center, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. DWelch@kumc.edu.
authors.forename: Danny R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Welch
mesh_terms: D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment