Chromosomal and Functional Differences in Malignant Cell Populations

Abstract

Biologists have put forward the view that the heterogeneous population structure of tumours enhances their progression. The chromosome variants in a tumour represent a pool of cell types with altered genotypes which confer certain advantages in a changing environment. Many studies have been carried out attempting to clarify the possible relationship between certain characteristics of tumours and chromosome patterns representing a particular genotype. Some of the findings from such studies are described below.