Cancerous tumors are well adapted for survival. The cells within cancerous tumors do not recognize the "stop" points for cell growth. This means that cancerous cells divide long after non-cancerous cells would stop. Furthermore, cancer cells trick the body into fueling them with substantial energy to grow larger. Does this mean that cancerous cells are simply foreign parasites that have well-developed strategies for attacking human bodies? On the contrary, cancer cells are made of our own cells, which gives these cells enigmatic and frightening auras. With that being said, the ever-present question must be asked: why hasn't natural selection eliminated cancer entirely? According to evolutionary biologists, natural selection has favored certain defenses against cancer but, also, has provided some tools for the growth of cancer cells. Of course, understanding the evolution of cancer does not guarantee that this disease will be eliminated. However, revealing cancer's history could help develop new ways to fight it more effectively.
References
Zimmer, C. Evolved for cancer? Scientific American. 18, 14-21 (2008).
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