Evolution drives cancer development, scientists say

That is, until the tissue ecosystem and its pressures change in ways that make cells with cancerous mutations more likely to survive than healthy cells. Over time, this allows the population of cancer cells to overcome that of healthy cells.

People can avoid some of these tissue changes by lifestyle choices, Dr DeGregori noted, but aging cannot be stopped. Still, there may be features of the tissue landscape that, with new therapies and new understanding, could be reinforced in ways to resist cancer better for longer.