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Development & Cancer

The study of embryonic development directly relates to our understanding the mechanisms of tumorigenesis. Normal adult differentiated cells tightly regulate cellular proliferation rates and the loss of this growth control is a defining character for tumorigenesis. The rapid proliferation of early stage embryos is similar to the uncontrolled growth of an emerging tumor and therefore, the loss of growth control can be viewed as a regression of the differentiation process returning adult cells to an earlier more proliferative developmental state. Two striking examples are the Hedghog and Wnt signaling pathways that serve both critical roles during embryonic development and that, if inappropriately activated later in adults, can promote tumor formation. Thus, identifying the genes and mechanisms by which embryos restrict cell fates, induce differentiated states and arrest cellular growth will likely expose new avenues for cancer treatment.