The Evolutionary Theory of Cancer | Dr. Charley Lineweaver

The following is a fascinating interview with Dr. Charley Lineweaver, who worked with Paul Davies on his work on cancer which we discuss. 

Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/clineweaver 

Topics include: 

• the evolutionary and atavistic theory of cancer 
• the incorrectness of the somatic mutation theory of cancer 
• a novel take on attacking the weakness of cancer 
• how embryogenesis could be viewed as cells reverting to old memory 
• the origins of multicellularity 
• “Cancer cannot do anything new” The atavistic theory of cancer states that cancer cells revert to an old memory they have from billions of years, but forget the new memory. The old memory pertains to constant cell proliferation, which happened as single-celled creatures, and in fact in embryogenesis as well. The new memory pertains to regulating cell proliferation and cells knowing when to stop cellular division. In cancer, it seems like cells forget this new memory and revert to the old memory. This theory has many interesting explanations and predictions which we dive into in the conversation. Enjoy! 

Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/clineweaver Find me: https://x.com/aasthajs 

TIMESTAMPS: 

• 0:00 Background in astrobiology 
• 1:53 Evolutionary theory of cancer 
• 6:22 Atavistic model: Cancer cells go back to “original state” 
• 9:50 Atavistic theory vs. Cancer 
• 14:44 Somatic Mutation Theory of Cancer is Wrong 
• 22:36 Disagreement with Mike Levin’s work 
• 24:17 Attack the weakness of cancer 
• 27:45 Vaccine for cancer 
• 38:08 Wound healing and cancer 
• 41:23 Why new genes are more susceptible to damage 
• 45:26 Origins of multicellularity 
• 48:49 Predictions of Atavistic model 
• 53:45 Cancer cells spread 
• 56:52 Cell proliferation, Cancer, Hayflick limit 
• 58:54 Doctors are not trained in evolution 

AASTHA, LIVE LONGER WORLD: Twitter: https://x.com/aasthajs Newsletter: https://livelongerworld.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aasthajs/ DR. CHARLEY LINEWEAVER: Website: https://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/lineweaver-ch 

Papers referenced: 

• Cancer progression as a series of atavistic reversions: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8860064/
• Targeting cancer's weaknesses, not its strengths: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4282648/