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Review
. 2019 Jun 10;16(7):981-989.
doi: 10.7150/ijms.34739. eCollection 2019.

Molecular heterogeneity in lung cancer: from mechanisms of origin to clinical implications

Federica Zito Marino  1 , Roberto Bianco  2 , Marina Accardo  1 , Andrea Ronchi  1 , Immacolata Cozzolino  1 , Floriana Morgillo  3 , Giulio Rossi  4 , Renato Franco  1
Affiliations
Review

Molecular heterogeneity in lung cancer: from mechanisms of origin to clinical implications

Federica Zito Marino et al. Int J Med Sci. .

Abstract

Molecular heterogeneity is a frequent event in cancer responsible of several critical issues in diagnosis and treatment of oncologic patients. Lung tumours are characterized by high degree of molecular heterogeneity associated to different mechanisms of origin including genetic, epigenetic and non-genetic source. In this review, we provide an overview of recognized mechanisms underlying molecular heterogeneity in lung cancer, including epigenetic mechanisms, mutant allele specific imbalance, genomic instability, chromosomal aberrations, tumor mutational burden, somatic mutations. We focus on the role of spatial and temporal molecular heterogeneity involved in therapeutic implications in lung cancer patients.

Keywords: driver mutations; lung cancer; molecular heterogeneity; therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Mechanisms of origin of molecular heterogeneity in Lung Cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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