What are the Clinical Implications of Tissue Heterogeneity?
The presence of tissue heterogeneity has several implications for cancer treatment:
1. Drug Resistance: Diverse subpopulations may respond differently to chemotherapy or targeted therapies, leading to partial treatment success. 2. Personalized Medicine: Understanding the specific characteristics of a patient's tumor can guide the selection of more effective, individualized treatments. 3. Prognosis: Greater heterogeneity often correlates with a poorer prognosis, as it suggests a more adaptable and aggressive tumor.
