030-A developmental constraint model of cancer cell states

Paper Talk · Aug 19, 2025 · 17m

This article introduces a developmental constraint model of cancer cell states and tumor heterogeneity, positing that cancer cells traverse a "developmental map" to generate diverse cell populations. It builds upon findings from single-cell transcriptomic analyses, which reveal that cancer cell states often recur across different tumor types, co-opt programs from normal physiological and developmental processes, and exhibit remarkable plasticity, allowing them to transition between states. The authors demonstrate how various cancer types, including melanoma, lung adenocarcinoma, glioblastoma…