Tumor initiation and early tumorigenesis: molecular mechanisms and interventional targets

Tumorigenesis is a multistep process, with oncogenic mutations in a normal cell conferring clonal advantage as the initial event. However, despite pervasive somatic mutations and clonal expansion in normal tissues, their transformation into cancer remains a rare event, indicating the presence of additional driver events for progression to an irreversible, highly heterogeneous, and invasive lesion. Recently, researchers are emphasizing the mechanisms of environmental tumor risk factors and epigenetic alterations that are profoundly influencing early clonal expansion and malignant evolution, independently of inducing mutations. Additionally, clonal evolution in tumorigenesis reflects a multifaceted interplay…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 2022-I2M-2-003, 82203156, -I2M-2-003, 81988101
• CA
  Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

  Awards: 2022-I2M-2-003, 2021-I2M-1-013, 2022-
• NK
  National Key Research and Development Program of China

  Awards: 2021YFC2501000, 2023YFC3503200