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Surviving Cancer: The Biology of Luck | Jerry Radich | TEDxSeattle


I’m Jerry and I study the genetics of

I’m Jerry and I study the genetics of luck now what is that cancer touches us

luck now what is that cancer touches us

luck now what is that cancer touches us all your friends your family maybe you

all your friends your family maybe you

all your friends your family maybe you and we all know people who have cancer

and we all know people who have cancer

and we all know people who have cancer and should do great and do poorly and we

and should do great and do poorly and we

and should do great and do poorly and we know people who have cancer and should

know people who have cancer and should

know people who have cancer and should do terribly and they do great

do terribly and they do great

do terribly and they do great and that’s ascribe to lifestyle or

and that’s ascribe to lifestyle or

and that’s ascribe to lifestyle or strength of will or faith or often luck

strength of will or faith or often luck

strength of will or faith or often luck well what is that I think what luck is

well what is that I think what luck is

well what is that I think what luck is is just a measure of our profound gap of

is just a measure of our profound gap of

is just a measure of our profound gap of knowledge between the interaction of a

knowledge between the interaction of a

knowledge between the interaction of a person their cancer and their therapy

person their cancer and their therapy

person their cancer and their therapy and how that impacts their response so

and how that impacts their response so

and how that impacts their response so what I need to do here first is a quick

what I need to do here first is a quick

what I need to do here first is a quick like one-minute primer of cancer in

like one-minute primer of cancer in

like one-minute primer of cancer in genetics so what cancer is is the

genetics so what cancer is is the

genetics so what cancer is is the uncontrolled growth of cells now your

uncontrolled growth of cells now your

uncontrolled growth of cells now your normal cells are fantastic about knowing

normal cells are fantastic about knowing

normal cells are fantastic about knowing when to divide when to stop so if you

when to divide when to stop so if you

when to divide when to stop so if you have a break in your leg or a big gouge

have a break in your leg or a big gouge

have a break in your leg or a big gouge in your arm the cells will grow until

in your arm the cells will grow until

in your arm the cells will grow until they fill in and repair and then they’ll

they fill in and repair and then they’ll

they fill in and repair and then they’ll stop you don’t have a big you know lump

stop you don’t have a big you know lump

stop you don’t have a big you know lump growing on your arm that you have to

growing on your arm that you have to

growing on your arm that you have to drag around as your cells keep going and

drag around as your cells keep going and

drag around as your cells keep going and going and growing how that happens is

going and growing how that happens is

going and growing how that happens is there are genes that are responsible for

there are genes that are responsible for

there are genes that are responsible for turning growth on and stopping it so you

turning growth on and stopping it so you

turning growth on and stopping it so you can also imagine these how are like

can also imagine these how are like

can also imagine these how are like switches you need to grow switch goes on

switches you need to grow switch goes on

switches you need to grow switch goes on you grow enough you stop and what cancer

you grow enough you stop and what cancer

you grow enough you stop and what cancer is has mutations that basically force

is has mutations that basically force

is has mutations that basically force this switch into the on position so it

this switch into the on position so it

this switch into the on position so it grows and grows and grows and grows and

grows and grows and grows and grows and

grows and grows and grows and grows and doesn’t stop and so then it pull if

doesn’t stop and so then it pull if

doesn’t stop and so then it pull if rates it gets into bone to cause pain it

rates it gets into bone to cause pain it

rates it gets into bone to cause pain it goes into normal organs and disrupts

goes into normal organs and disrupts

goes into normal organs and disrupts their functions all the problems with

their functions all the problems with

their functions all the problems with cancer so I study will Kimia which is a

cancer so I study will Kimia which is a

cancer so I study will Kimia which is a cancer of the blood forming organ and

cancer of the blood forming organ and

cancer of the blood forming organ and the slides that I’ve shown here it’s

the slides that I’ve shown here it’s

the slides that I’ve shown here it’s just an example for I’m talking about

just an example for I’m talking about

just an example for I’m talking about uncontrolled growth on the left is a

uncontrolled growth on the left is a

uncontrolled growth on the left is a normal bone marrow and all I want you

normal bone marrow and all I want you

normal bone marrow and all I want you get out of that is that there are

get out of that is that there are

get out of that is that there are different kinds of cells you can get

different kinds of cells you can get

different kinds of cells you can get that by the colors and their space and

that by the colors and their space and

that by the colors and their space and on the right there’s leukemia which is

on the right there’s leukemia which is

on the right there’s leukemia which is just a

just a

just a a sheet of similar leukemia cells as

a sheet of similar leukemia cells as

a sheet of similar leukemia cells as overwhelmed everything and so if I had

overwhelmed everything and so if I had

overwhelmed everything and so if I had well Kimia if I went to the emergency

well Kimia if I went to the emergency

well Kimia if I went to the emergency room because I was sick with leukemia I

room because I was sick with leukemia I

room because I was sick with leukemia I would have tens to hundreds of billions

would have tens to hundreds of billions

would have tens to hundreds of billions of leukemia cells at the time of

of leukemia cells at the time of

of leukemia cells at the time of diagnosis and so I have to get therapy

diagnosis and so I have to get therapy

diagnosis and so I have to get therapy now while I study will Kimia what I’m

now while I study will Kimia what I’m

now while I study will Kimia what I’m gonna talk about next really applies to

gonna talk about next really applies to

gonna talk about next really applies to all kinds of cancers

all kinds of cancers

all kinds of cancers there are basically three responses to

there are basically three responses to

there are basically three responses to therapy that you can have and if one

therapy that you can have and if one

therapy that you can have and if one slide can depict an entire career this

slide can depict an entire career this

slide can depict an entire career this slide is my career which is I this shows

slide is my career which is I this shows

slide is my career which is I this shows immense focus or it’s just kind of sad

immense focus or it’s just kind of sad

immense focus or it’s just kind of sad you can you can you can you can decide

you can you can you can you can decide

you can you can you can you can decide so you can have three treatment

so you can have three treatment

so you can have three treatment responses and unfortunately you don’t

responses and unfortunately you don’t

responses and unfortunately you don’t get to decide the physicians really

get to decide the physicians really

get to decide the physicians really don’t get to decide your cancer is the

don’t get to decide your cancer is the

don’t get to decide your cancer is the one making that decision right and

one making that decision right and

one making that decision right and unfortunately as physicians we’re not

unfortunately as physicians we’re not

unfortunately as physicians we’re not very well equipped to tell you which

very well equipped to tell you which

very well equipped to tell you which pathway that your cancer is going to go

pathway that your cancer is going to go

pathway that your cancer is going to go on so the first which is you get

on so the first which is you get

on so the first which is you get chemotherapy and your disease just

chemotherapy and your disease just

chemotherapy and your disease just dissolves and you’re cured that’s what

dissolves and you’re cured that’s what

dissolves and you’re cured that’s what we want there’s the second where you get

we want there’s the second where you get

we want there’s the second where you get chemotherapy and it doesn’t do anything

chemotherapy and it doesn’t do anything

chemotherapy and it doesn’t do anything we call that refractory disease in this

we call that refractory disease in this

we call that refractory disease in this case we’ve exposed patients to

case we’ve exposed patients to

case we’ve exposed patients to chemotherapy and also toxicity without

chemotherapy and also toxicity without

chemotherapy and also toxicity without any benefit at all the third is the most

any benefit at all the third is the most

any benefit at all the third is the most common you initially respond to therapy

common you initially respond to therapy

common you initially respond to therapy and then your disease comes back and it

and then your disease comes back and it

and then your disease comes back and it often comes back differently than the

often comes back differently than the

often comes back differently than the original disease it’s often close faster

original disease it’s often close faster

original disease it’s often close faster it often is less sensitive chemotherapy

it often is less sensitive chemotherapy

it often is less sensitive chemotherapy and you can imagine how devastating this

and you can imagine how devastating this

and you can imagine how devastating this is to patients who’ve initially respond

is to patients who’ve initially respond

is to patients who’ve initially respond and now they’ve relapsed they lost their

and now they’ve relapsed they lost their

and now they’ve relapsed they lost their real chance to be cured it’s a it’s a

real chance to be cured it’s a it’s a

real chance to be cured it’s a it’s a horrible thing to happen but this is

horrible thing to happen but this is

horrible thing to happen but this is still despite all of our amazing

still despite all of our amazing

still despite all of our amazing progress we’ve made in cancers this is

progress we’ve made in cancers this is

progress we’ve made in cancers this is still the major problem in all cancer is

still the major problem in all cancer is

still the major problem in all cancer is the problem of relapse so if it’s been

the problem of relapse so if it’s been

the problem of relapse so if it’s been the major problem for years and years

the major problem for years and years

the major problem for years and years and years which is still a major problem

and years which is still a major problem

and years which is still a major problem it suggests that maybe we have to start

it suggests that maybe we have to start

it suggests that maybe we have to start thinking differently about what it is to

thinking differently about what it is to

thinking differently about what it is to cure cancer what we really need to do

cure cancer what we really need to do

cure cancer what we really need to do how we think about cancer

how we think about cancer

how we think about cancer resistance so when I started doing this

resistance so when I started doing this

resistance so when I started doing this almost three decades ago the number of

almost three decades ago the number of

almost three decades ago the number of genes that were responsible for causing

genes that were responsible for causing

genes that were responsible for causing cancer you can put on one hand now we

cancer you can put on one hand now we

cancer you can put on one hand now we know that there are scores of genes that

know that there are scores of genes that

know that there are scores of genes that can cause cancer and we know that not

can cause cancer and we know that not

can cause cancer and we know that not just one mutation in one gene causes

just one mutation in one gene causes

just one mutation in one gene causes cancer a cell actually has to get a

cancer a cell actually has to get a

cancer a cell actually has to get a number of mutations and that’s

number of mutations and that’s

number of mutations and that’s presumably because these functions in

presumably because these functions in

presumably because these functions in the cell are so important that you have

the cell are so important that you have

the cell are so important that you have backups so one mutation alone doesn’t do

backups so one mutation alone doesn’t do

backups so one mutation alone doesn’t do it it takes multiple mutations to

it it takes multiple mutations to

it it takes multiple mutations to eliminate the backups to get cancer so

eliminate the backups to get cancer so

eliminate the backups to get cancer so in this mom I’ve shown here I don’t know

in this mom I’ve shown here I don’t know

in this mom I’ve shown here I don’t know far left is a normal cell and then it

far left is a normal cell and then it

far left is a normal cell and then it gets one mutation that’s that’s kind of

gets one mutation that’s that’s kind of

gets one mutation that’s that’s kind of pinkish color that’s still going to be

pinkish color that’s still going to be

pinkish color that’s still going to be behaving as a normal cell it gets a

behaving as a normal cell it gets a

behaving as a normal cell it gets a second mutation and in this model it

second mutation and in this model it

second mutation and in this model it takes three mutations into cancer and in

takes three mutations into cancer and in

takes three mutations into cancer and in Mosul Kimmy as it takes somewhere

Mosul Kimmy as it takes somewhere

Mosul Kimmy as it takes somewhere between three to five mutations with

between three to five mutations with

between three to five mutations with that you get the uncontrolled

that you get the uncontrolled

that you get the uncontrolled proliferation of cells all genetically

proliferation of cells all genetically

proliferation of cells all genetically identical to the original cancer so it’s

identical to the original cancer so it’s

identical to the original cancer so it’s almost like the cancer the Xerox machine

almost like the cancer the Xerox machine

almost like the cancer the Xerox machine is going to preserve so for those of you

is going to preserve so for those of you

is going to preserve so for those of you who are very young and I’ve never seen a

who are very young and I’ve never seen a

who are very young and I’ve never seen a Xerox machine ask the person next to you

Xerox machine ask the person next to you

Xerox machine ask the person next to you I just realize that kind of dates me

I just realize that kind of dates me

I just realize that kind of dates me quite a bit doesn’t so you basically

quite a bit doesn’t so you basically

quite a bit doesn’t so you basically have the thought is that you have

have the thought is that you have

have the thought is that you have billions of identical cells now when

billions of identical cells now when

billions of identical cells now when cells are identical to each other we

cells are identical to each other we

cells are identical to each other we call them a clone for you and lingo

call them a clone for you and lingo

call them a clone for you and lingo there and so it’s cancer is seen was

there and so it’s cancer is seen was

there and so it’s cancer is seen was seen as kind of a monolith of

seen as kind of a monolith of

seen as kind of a monolith of genetically identical cells it takes

genetically identical cells it takes

genetically identical cells it takes over now that model fits some of those

over now that model fits some of those

over now that model fits some of those three curves I showed if your cancer are

three curves I showed if your cancer are

three curves I showed if your cancer are all composed of genetically identical

all composed of genetically identical

all composed of genetically identical cells that behave the same and they

cells that behave the same and they

cells that behave the same and they happen to be sensitive to chemotherapy

happen to be sensitive to chemotherapy

happen to be sensitive to chemotherapy you give the therapy and melts away okay

you give the therapy and melts away okay

you give the therapy and melts away okay that fits on the contrary if you just

that fits on the contrary if you just

that fits on the contrary if you just happen to have a huge clone of identical

happen to have a huge clone of identical

happen to have a huge clone of identical cells that’s resistant then you give

cells that’s resistant then you give

cells that’s resistant then you give therapy and none of those cells respond

therapy and none of those cells respond

therapy and none of those cells respond okay that fits as well where it doesn’t

okay that fits as well where it doesn’t

okay that fits as well where it doesn’t fit

fit

fit is the most common that response and

is the most common that response and

is the most common that response and then relapse because if they’re all the

then relapse because if they’re all the

then relapse because if they’re all the same cells why would that happen why do

same cells why would that happen why do

same cells why would that happen why do they learn resistance all right that

they learn resistance all right that

they learn resistance all right that doesn’t make any sense so the question

doesn’t make any sense so the question

doesn’t make any sense so the question is is have we been thinking about cancer

is is have we been thinking about cancer

is is have we been thinking about cancer with that one ear model I showed wrong

with that one ear model I showed wrong

with that one ear model I showed wrong and it appears so just recently we’ve

and it appears so just recently we’ve

and it appears so just recently we’ve found that in fact cancer is not one

found that in fact cancer is not one

found that in fact cancer is not one clone it’s actually many many clones so

clone it’s actually many many clones so

clone it’s actually many many clones so you get a cancer and then you start

you get a cancer and then you start

you get a cancer and then you start having offspring which are genetically

having offspring which are genetically

having offspring which are genetically similar but different and so you can

similar but different and so you can

similar but different and so you can imagine building sort of a family tree

imagine building sort of a family tree

imagine building sort of a family tree well you have a parent cancer and then

well you have a parent cancer and then

well you have a parent cancer and then all of these offsprings as they

all of these offsprings as they

all of these offsprings as they accumulate more and different mutations

accumulate more and different mutations

accumulate more and different mutations now because of this you have many

now because of this you have many

now because of this you have many different clones different sizes they

different clones different sizes they

different clones different sizes they grow at different rates and they’re

grow at different rates and they’re

grow at different rates and they’re responsive to different chemo therapies

responsive to different chemo therapies

responsive to different chemo therapies differently many different clones that

differently many different clones that

differently many different clones that behave differently you start getting any

behave differently you start getting any

behave differently you start getting any into kind of Darwinian space survival of

into kind of Darwinian space survival of

into kind of Darwinian space survival of the fittest natural selection because

the fittest natural selection because

the fittest natural selection because you can imagine now you have a very

you can imagine now you have a very

you can imagine now you have a very complicated ecosystem of cancer it’s not

complicated ecosystem of cancer it’s not

complicated ecosystem of cancer it’s not just your normal cells versus cancer

just your normal cells versus cancer

just your normal cells versus cancer cells there’s a fight in the cancer

cells there’s a fight in the cancer

cells there’s a fight in the cancer cells itself so you have basically

cells itself so you have basically

cells itself so you have basically competition going on within the cancer

competition going on within the cancer

competition going on within the cancer and the competition between the cancer

and the competition between the cancer

and the competition between the cancer different clones and the normal is for

different clones and the normal is for

different clones and the normal is for space it’s for resources you have a

space it’s for resources you have a

space it’s for resources you have a situation of Darwinian selection now on

situation of Darwinian selection now on

situation of Darwinian selection now on the left here I show a kind of a tree

the left here I show a kind of a tree

the left here I show a kind of a tree lineage diagram of a case where someone

lineage diagram of a case where someone

lineage diagram of a case where someone had kidney cancer and used the genetic

had kidney cancer and used the genetic

had kidney cancer and used the genetic analysis of that then they had multiple

analysis of that then they had multiple

analysis of that then they had multiple metastases and you do the genetic

metastases and you do the genetic

metastases and you do the genetic analysis of all of those and you see and

analysis of all of those and you see and

analysis of all of those and you see and kind of get a family tree of how they

kind of get a family tree of how they

kind of get a family tree of how they related the long stalk there is a print

related the long stalk there is a print

related the long stalk there is a print those are the offspring so if this

those are the offspring so if this

those are the offspring so if this cancer went to ancestry.com this is what

cancer went to ancestry.com this is what

cancer went to ancestry.com this is what it would see

now I think we’re onto something because

now I think we’re onto something because look at the the branching diagram on the

look at the the branching diagram on the

look at the the branching diagram on the right looks a lot like the one on the

right looks a lot like the one on the

right looks a lot like the one on the left the one on the right is from

left the one on the right is from

left the one on the right is from Darwin’s notebook when he was trying to

Darwin’s notebook when he was trying to

Darwin’s notebook when he was trying to figure out evolution by studying finches

figure out evolution by studying finches

figure out evolution by studying finches in the Galapagos look pretty darn

in the Galapagos look pretty darn

in the Galapagos look pretty darn similar right what a thing I love is

similar right what a thing I love is

similar right what a thing I love is this little highlighted area here this

this little highlighted area here this

this little highlighted area here this is in Darwin’s notebook I think it’s

is in Darwin’s notebook I think it’s

is in Darwin’s notebook I think it’s sort of like I think I have the most

sort of like I think I have the most

sort of like I think I have the most exciting biological thought in the last

exciting biological thought in the last

exciting biological thought in the last 2,000 years and I think he’s right

2,000 years and I think he’s right

2,000 years and I think he’s right because I think this is actually how you

because I think this is actually how you

because I think this is actually how you can explain much of the behavior of

can explain much of the behavior of

can explain much of the behavior of cancer and how we have to think about it

cancer and how we have to think about it

cancer and how we have to think about it to actually cure it in the future so

to actually cure it in the future so

to actually cure it in the future so let’s go back to our model now and

let’s go back to our model now and

let’s go back to our model now and instead of looking at one giant similar

instead of looking at one giant similar

instead of looking at one giant similar clone we have multiple clones so on the

clone we have multiple clones so on the

clone we have multiple clones so on the left there the the most biggest clone

left there the the most biggest clone

left there the the most biggest clone are green we’re going to call those

are green we’re going to call those

are green we’re going to call those sensitive cells to chemotherapy and so

sensitive cells to chemotherapy and so

sensitive cells to chemotherapy and so you little you have your cancer

you little you have your cancer

you little you have your cancer ecosystem there and then you give

ecosystem there and then you give

ecosystem there and then you give chemotherapy and what that chemotherapy

chemotherapy and what that chemotherapy

chemotherapy and what that chemotherapy does is wipes out the most sensitive

does is wipes out the most sensitive

does is wipes out the most sensitive clone the green ones and then at the

clone the green ones and then at the

clone the green ones and then at the bottom there you see the trough you have

bottom there you see the trough you have

bottom there you see the trough you have some resistant cells left over now what

some resistant cells left over now what

some resistant cells left over now what have you done your chemotherapy is

have you done your chemotherapy is

have you done your chemotherapy is basically wiped out one group of cells

basically wiped out one group of cells

basically wiped out one group of cells that was sensitive but now the more

that was sensitive but now the more

that was sensitive but now the more resistant cells have room to grow they

resistant cells have room to grow they

resistant cells have room to grow they don’t have any competition they’ve got

don’t have any competition they’ve got

don’t have any competition they’ve got more space they’ve got more food and

more space they’ve got more food and

more space they’ve got more food and they grow and you get resistance and

they grow and you get resistance and

they grow and you get resistance and then you give more therapy or a

then you give more therapy or a

then you give more therapy or a different therapy you wipe out the next

different therapy you wipe out the next

different therapy you wipe out the next sensitive clone and the next even more

sensitive clone and the next even more

sensitive clone and the next even more resistant clone comes after that so in

resistant clone comes after that so in

resistant clone comes after that so in this case the unintended consequence of

this case the unintended consequence of

this case the unintended consequence of chemotherapy is breeding resistance so

chemotherapy is breeding resistance so

chemotherapy is breeding resistance so you in this tough situation where in

you in this tough situation where in

you in this tough situation where in some patients chemotherapy is zapping

some patients chemotherapy is zapping

some patients chemotherapy is zapping what they need in other cases it

what they need in other cases it

what they need in other cases it actually is putting the stage forward to

actually is putting the stage forward to

actually is putting the stage forward to actually doing exactly what you’d expect

actually doing exactly what you’d expect

actually doing exactly what you’d expect for resistance so in this case cancer

for resistance so in this case cancer

for resistance so in this case cancer has used natural selection against you

has used natural selection against you

has used natural selection against you now so far we’ve been studying this

now so far we’ve been studying this

now so far we’ve been studying this we’ve done some remarkable things but

we’ve done some remarkable things but

we’ve done some remarkable things but we’ve do

we’ve do

we’ve do you know I sort of like dude fighting

you know I sort of like dude fighting

you know I sort of like dude fighting with our hands behind our back with one

with our hands behind our back with one

with our hands behind our back with one hand because how we’d had to do these

hand because how we’d had to do these

hand because how we’d had to do these studies thus far it’s basically take

studies thus far it’s basically take

studies thus far it’s basically take millions of cells grind them up and then

millions of cells grind them up and then

millions of cells grind them up and then do your genetics in your biology on

do your genetics in your biology on

do your genetics in your biology on those so in a sense you’re averaging out

those so in a sense you’re averaging out

those so in a sense you’re averaging out all of the individual variations in the

all of the individual variations in the

all of the individual variations in the cells right so the analogy here would be

cells right so the analogy here would be

cells right so the analogy here would be akin to want to know the ecosystem of a

akin to want to know the ecosystem of a

akin to want to know the ecosystem of a swamp and so you drain the swamp

swamp and so you drain the swamp

swamp and so you drain the swamp I hear this hole and so I’ve interested

I hear this hole and so I’ve interested

I hear this hole and so I’ve interested in training swamps these days right so

in training swamps these days right so

in training swamps these days right so you drain the swamp and then you put it

you drain the swamp and then you put it

you drain the swamp and then you put it in a blender and then you do your

in a blender and then you do your

in a blender and then you do your genetic analysis right and you look and

genetic analysis right and you look and

genetic analysis right and you look and you say well it looks like there’s a lot

you say well it looks like there’s a lot

you say well it looks like there’s a lot of frog in here in this slob and it

of frog in here in this slob and it

of frog in here in this slob and it looks like that’s a bit of a duck and

looks like that’s a bit of a duck and

looks like that’s a bit of a duck and here’s a part of a lobbyist

not nice shoes and you can get useful

not nice shoes and you can get useful information out of that but not really

information out of that but not really

information out of that but not really as fine as you might like and and just

as fine as you might like and and just

as fine as you might like and and just within the last year or so we are now

within the last year or so we are now

within the last year or so we are now able to do genetic analysis and

able to do genetic analysis and

able to do genetic analysis and functional noses on single cells so you

functional noses on single cells so you

functional noses on single cells so you can actually get much more information

can actually get much more information

can actually get much more information potentially because you can actually

potentially because you can actually

potentially because you can actually take a sample divide it into each single

take a sample divide it into each single

take a sample divide it into each single cell and understand what did she

cell and understand what did she

cell and understand what did she actually that single cell is and get an

actually that single cell is and get an

actually that single cell is and get an idea about how those cells might be

idea about how those cells might be

idea about how those cells might be functioning and interacting with other

functioning and interacting with other

functioning and interacting with other cells so you get a much more depth of

cells so you get a much more depth of

cells so you get a much more depth of understanding of what this cancer

understanding of what this cancer

understanding of what this cancer ecosystem is and again we’re very very

ecosystem is and again we’re very very

ecosystem is and again we’re very very early on this and this is really in its

early on this and this is really in its

early on this and this is really in its infancy but I think this has a huge

infancy but I think this has a huge

infancy but I think this has a huge potential in driving our understanding

potential in driving our understanding

potential in driving our understanding of the complex ecosystem of cancer now

of the complex ecosystem of cancer now

of the complex ecosystem of cancer now there are huge questions we just

there are huge questions we just

there are huge questions we just beginning this you know most ideas are

beginning this you know most ideas are

beginning this you know most ideas are wrong they something might be – one

wrong they something might be – one

wrong they something might be – one question is how do you measure the

question is how do you measure the

question is how do you measure the clonal diversity of the tree you can

clonal diversity of the tree you can

clonal diversity of the tree you can make those tree diagrams but how do you

make those tree diagrams but how do you

make those tree diagrams but how do you what does it mean that one looks more

what does it mean that one looks more

what does it mean that one looks more compeiied than the other and how does

compeiied than the other and how does

compeiied than the other and how does that map to how people respond that’s

that map to how people respond that’s

that map to how people respond that’s going to take a lot of work our similar

going to take a lot of work our similar

going to take a lot of work our similar trees differently you can imagine the

trees differently you can imagine the

trees differently you can imagine the clonal structures being the same but

clonal structures being the same but

clonal structures being the same but there are different genes involved in

there are different genes involved in

there are different genes involved in each tree are those going to behave the

each tree are those going to behave the

each tree are those going to behave the same or they behave differently how do

same or they behave differently how do

same or they behave differently how do clones compete is it just a matter of

clones compete is it just a matter of

clones compete is it just a matter of you glow as fast as possible for the

you glow as fast as possible for the

you glow as fast as possible for the space you have in the resources or do

space you have in the resources or do

space you have in the resources or do actually some clones produce substances

actually some clones produce substances

actually some clones produce substances that actually impact the growth of other

that actually impact the growth of other

that actually impact the growth of other clones is there an active competition

clones is there an active competition

clones is there an active competition going on how do clones cooperate in

going on how do clones cooperate in

going on how do clones cooperate in almost all complicated ecosystems some

almost all complicated ecosystems some

almost all complicated ecosystems some groups cooperate how did these cooperate

groups cooperate how did these cooperate

groups cooperate how did these cooperate it’s curious that in the leukemia if you

it’s curious that in the leukemia if you

it’s curious that in the leukemia if you use really really sensitive techniques

use really really sensitive techniques

use really really sensitive techniques we can find like one leukemia cell there

we can find like one leukemia cell there

we can find like one leukemia cell there background by a million normal cells

background by a million normal cells

background by a million normal cells there’s many cases where patients will

there’s many cases where patients will

there’s many cases where patients will be cured for ten years and have a very

be cured for ten years and have a very

be cured for ten years and have a very very small amount of they will Kimia

very small amount of they will Kimia

very small amount of they will Kimia that still persists and it persists over

that still persists and it persists over

that still persists and it persists over years and they don’t realize that’s

years and they don’t realize that’s

years and they don’t realize that’s called dormancy and we don’t understand

called dormancy and we don’t understand

called dormancy and we don’t understand what that is

what that is

what that is but one thing you might imagine if you

but one thing you might imagine if you

but one thing you might imagine if you believe this model and said that’s a

believe this model and said that’s a

believe this model and said that’s a clone of cells that without helper cells

clone of cells that without helper cells

clone of cells that without helper cells without cells that you’ve illuminate

without cells that you’ve illuminate

without cells that you’ve illuminate with you chemotherapy they can’t grow so

with you chemotherapy they can’t grow so

with you chemotherapy they can’t grow so they’re just going to sit around forever

they’re just going to sit around forever

they’re just going to sit around forever and really not cause a problem and in

and really not cause a problem and in

and really not cause a problem and in fact they just might take up some space

fact they just might take up some space

fact they just might take up some space and prevent more variant clones from

and prevent more variant clones from

and prevent more variant clones from growing and I think the most important

growing and I think the most important

growing and I think the most important thing is do we need to kill all the

thing is do we need to kill all the

thing is do we need to kill all the cancer cells to cure people if I have a

cancer cells to cure people if I have a

cancer cells to cure people if I have a thousand billion leukemia cells can I

thousand billion leukemia cells can I

thousand billion leukemia cells can I actually cure that with chemotherapy

actually cure that with chemotherapy

actually cure that with chemotherapy that might be mathematically impossible

that might be mathematically impossible

that might be mathematically impossible to do but if you understand dude the

to do but if you understand dude the

to do but if you understand dude the ecosystem enough and how these things

ecosystem enough and how these things

ecosystem enough and how these things interact with each other maybe you could

interact with each other maybe you could

interact with each other maybe you could do much more targeted therapy eliminate

do much more targeted therapy eliminate

do much more targeted therapy eliminate the clones you need to and not need to

the clones you need to and not need to

the clones you need to and not need to keep pounding on chemotherapy and people

keep pounding on chemotherapy and people

keep pounding on chemotherapy and people at a point where it doesn’t do any good

at a point where it doesn’t do any good

at a point where it doesn’t do any good and just causes toxicity so I think in

and just causes toxicity so I think in

and just causes toxicity so I think in the future we know now what we think the

the future we know now what we think the

the future we know now what we think the rules of the game are Darwinian

rules of the game are Darwinian

rules of the game are Darwinian selection okay that’s an old friend and

selection okay that’s an old friend and

selection okay that’s an old friend and what we want to try to do is make it so

what we want to try to do is make it so

what we want to try to do is make it so that natural selection is working for us

that natural selection is working for us

that natural selection is working for us instead of against us so I think when

instead of against us so I think when

instead of against us so I think when people walk in the door with the disease

people walk in the door with the disease

people walk in the door with the disease we’ll be able to fairly quickly decide

we’ll be able to fairly quickly decide

we’ll be able to fairly quickly decide whether or not they’re on that one

whether or not they’re on that one

whether or not they’re on that one completely refractory pathway or not and

completely refractory pathway or not and

completely refractory pathway or not and if that’s their going to be their fate

if that’s their going to be their fate

if that’s their going to be their fate it’s got to think outside of the box

it’s got to think outside of the box

it’s got to think outside of the box about biological differences between

about biological differences between

about biological differences between those and the other cells use some new

those and the other cells use some new

those and the other cells use some new type of therapy to get them into a

type of therapy to get them into a

type of therapy to get them into a therapy response curve once you’ve given

therapy response curve once you’ve given

therapy response curve once you’ve given therapy and the cells are going down

therapy and the cells are going down

therapy and the cells are going down rather than just let them go back up

rather than just let them go back up

rather than just let them go back up we’re gonna actually use this as a to

we’re gonna actually use this as a to

we’re gonna actually use this as a to our advantage we’re gonna use this as a

our advantage we’re gonna use this as a

our advantage we’re gonna use this as a trap so we’re going to kill all the

trap so we’re going to kill all the

trap so we’re going to kill all the cells that we can that are sensitive and

cells that we can that are sensitive and

cells that we can that are sensitive and when then the ones that are left over

when then the ones that are left over

when then the ones that are left over will actually study those cells find out

will actually study those cells find out

will actually study those cells find out what’s left over and what they’re going

what’s left over and what they’re going

what’s left over and what they’re going to be sensitive to and then from that

to be sensitive to and then from that

to be sensitive to and then from that point on manipulate eliminate clones

point on manipulate eliminate clones

point on manipulate eliminate clones that we know can be very much clones

that we know can be very much clones

that we know can be very much clones that aren’t going to do any harm you let

that aren’t going to do any harm you let

that aren’t going to do any harm you let them live this is going to be

them live this is going to be

them live this is going to be complicated natural selection evolution

complicated natural selection evolution

complicated natural selection evolution has a several billion year head start on

has a several billion year head start on

has a several billion year head start on us humans trying to figure it out

us humans trying to figure it out

us humans trying to figure it out but I think that in the end this is

but I think that in the end this is

but I think that in the end this is going to be a game where we can actually

going to be a game where we can actually

going to be a game where we can actually change luck we can take those patients

change luck we can take those patients

change luck we can take those patients who are going to relapse and have bad

who are going to relapse and have bad

who are going to relapse and have bad luck and do things so that we make them

luck and do things so that we make them

luck and do things so that we make them into patients who have responded have

into patients who have responded have

into patients who have responded have good luck and doing that will be greater

good luck and doing that will be greater

good luck and doing that will be greater than how we’re treating cancer today

than how we’re treating cancer today

than how we’re treating cancer today Thanks

Thanks

Thanks [Applause]

”

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