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The mutator phenotype describes a process by which tumour cells are proposed to evolve genetic alterations that contribute to the acquisition of the various attributes that are required for tumour progression. Here, Lawrence Loeb updates this hypothesis, focusing on how DNA sequencing has informed the current view of the mutator phenotype in cancer.
There seem to be several overlapping processes that induce resistance to antibiotics for bacteria and chemotherapy for tumour cells. This Perspective discusses how our understanding of bacterial resistance to antibiotics might inform our understanding of the resistance of tumours to therapy.
