tumor heterogeneity

Tumor heterogeneity refers to the differences in cancer cells within the same tumor or between tumors in different patients. This variation can occur at genetic, biological, and cellular levels. Just like a forest made up of different types of trees, a tumor can contain diverse cell types, some more aggressive or resistant to treatment than others. This complexity can make it challenging to treat cancer, as a therapy that works on one type of cell might not be effective on another type in the same tumor, leading to complications in how we approach cancer treatment.