A comprehensive multi-cancer study by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has revealed that cancer cells within tumors are genetically diverse, yet all carry the same core genetic changes that can be traced back to a common ancestral cell, providing a single-cell view of how tumors adapt, survive and diversify. Understanding this helps explain why some cancer cells manage to survive treatment, paving the way for more tailored diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

The study, published in Cancer Discovery, was led by Nicholas Navin, Ph.D., chair of Systems Biology. The research shows that cancer cells do not evolve slowly over time, but rather grow through sudden bursts of rapid genetic changes that include copy number alterations (CNAs)—gains or losses of entire sections of DNA. This creates a family tree of distinct new subpopulations that can influence tumor aggressiveness, metastasis and treatment response.

“Our findings provide the clearest views to date of how cancers originate and evolve at the single-cell level,” Navin said. “By revealing both the shared early genetic events and the bursts that drive ongoing diversity, we now have a roadmap for developing smarter clinical diagnostic and treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes.”