Applying Evolutionary & Ecological Theory to Neoplastic Progression and Cancer Therapy

The Maley laboratory studies the evolution of clones during neoplastic progression of Barrett's esophagus, and the selective effects of therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is also developing the comparative biology of cancer to determine how large, long-lived organisms like whales are able to suppress cancer 1000-fold over humans. The lab applies evolutionary and ecological theory to neoplastic progression and cancer therapy to modulate the evolution of neoplastic cells, thereby preventing cancer and its relapse. The lab employs three, mutually reinforcing approaches to these problems:

1. Computational simulations to explore hypotheses
2. Data mining of (and application of evolutionary theory to) genetic and epigenetic data from neoplasms
3. Evolutionary experiments in tissue culture.