Fig. 1
From: Using single-cell multiple omics approaches to resolve tumor heterogeneity
Heterogeneity and metastasis. a Normal healthy tissues have a naturally occurring degree of somatic heterogeneity. These mutations can arise due to environmental factors and inaccurately resolved errors in transcription or replication. b As mutations stochastically arise, some will be neutral, thus having no apparent affect on the phenotype, while others may occur in ‘driver’ gene regions and have more immediately observable traits. For example, mutated DNA damage response (DDR) genes can drive tumorigenesis because they leave the cell without the necessary pathways to resolve lesions. c Driver gene mutations can confer an advantage in the founder clone and promote subsequent expansion. d Secondary mutations that occur in subclones further drive heterogeneity and can lead to metastasis. Additionally, recent research suggests that metastases may also derive from early disseminated cancer cells