Changing the Energy Habitat of the Cancer Cell in Order To Impact Therapeutic Resistance

Abstract

Somatic cellular evolution is becoming a popular biological explanation for the common rapid development of resistance to almost every form of cancer therapy and against almost every form of advanced human solid tumors. As a result of the historical power of evolution within nature, this common biological interpretation of the failure of cancer therapy is leading to a growing despair for many investigators and a stronger turn toward prevention through lifestyle changes. The absolute explosion of molecular scientific discoveries since 1983, in the reductionist identification of specific cancer therapeutic targets, has failed to deliver the impact in the clinic that many of us would have hoped would have resulted by this time. Personalized molecular medicine may help us reclassify appropriate therapeutic subgroups, but will it significantly impact the overall specific survival times for all of the cancers combined within the organ type for the entire population? How might we approach this therapeutic dilemma by utilizing new therapeutic insights designed on proven principles of evolution? In other words, can we fight the development of therapeutic resistance in cancer cells by turning established aspects of evolution against the survival of cancer cells within the individual patient? Here we review the concepts of changing the heat habitat and microenvironment of the cancer cell to alter the higher order organization and function of DNA. We have proposed that heat may be a major factor in determining the lasting therapeutic effect on many types of far advanced metastatic tumors.