Branching is significant in cancer for several reasons:
Therapeutic Resistance: The heterogeneity resulting from branching can lead to resistance against targeted therapies, as different subclones may respond variably to treatment. Metastasis: Certain subclones might acquire the ability to metastasize, or spread to other parts of the body, complicating treatment efforts. Diagnostic Challenges: Branching can make it difficult to accurately diagnose and monitor cancer, as a single biopsy might not represent the entire tumor's genetic landscape.
