摘要：SummaryCancers are the result of eco-evolutionary processes fueled by heritable phenotypic diversification and driven by environmentally dependent selection. Space represents a key growth-limiting ecological resource, the ability to explore this resource is likely under strong selection. Using agent-based modeling, we explored the interplay between phenotypic strategies centered on gaining access to new space through cell-extrinsic degradation of extracellular matrix barriers and the exploitation of this resource through maximizing cell proliferation. While cell proliferation is a cell-intrinsic property, newly accessed space represents a public good, which can benefit both producers and non-producers. We found that this interplay results in ecological succession, enabling emergence of large, heterogeneous, and highly proliferative populations. Even though in our simulations both remodeling and proliferation strategies were under strong positive selection, their interplay led to sub-clonal architecture that could be interpreted as evidence for neutral evolution, warranting cautious interpretation of inferences from sequencing of cancer genomes.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•Using agent-based models, we explored eco-evolutionary dynamics of tumors in space•We examined two phenotypes: one for accessing new space and one for consuming space•We observed ecological succession in simulations, resulting in tumors with high ITH•Model encodes selection explicitly but results could be misconstrued as neutralEvolutionary Theories; Cancer Systems Biology; Cancer
