Thomas F. auteur aut IRD Giraudeau M. auteur aut IRD Gouzerh F. auteur aut IRD Boutry J. auteur aut IRD Renaud F. auteur aut IRD Pujol P. auteur aut IRD Tasiemski A. auteur aut IRD Bernex F. auteur aut IRD Maraver A. auteur aut IRD Bousquet E. auteur aut IRD Dormont L. auteur aut IRD Osterkamp J. auteur aut IRD Roche Benjamin auteur aut IRD Hamede R. auteur aut IRD Ujvari B. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Although there is a plethora of cancer associated-factors that can ultimately culminate in death (cachexia, organ impairment, metastases, opportunistic infections, etc.), the focal element of every terminal malignancy is the failure of our natural defences to control unlimited cell proliferation. The reasons why our defences apparently lack efficiency is a complex question, potentially indicating that, under Darwinian terms, solutions other than preventing cancer progression are also important contributors. In analogy with host-parasite systems, we propose to call this latter option 'tolerance' to cancer. Here, we argue that the ubiquity of oncogenic processes among metazoans is at least partially attributable to both the limitations of resistance mechanisms and to the evolution of tolerance to cancer. Deciphering the ecological contexts of alternative responses to the cancer burden is not a semantic question, but rather a focal point in understanding the evolutionary ecology of host-tumour relationships, the evolution of our defences, as well as why and when certain cancers are likely to be detrimental for survival. specialized Cancer Resistance Tolerance 050 020 147 3 255-262 2020 0031-1820 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010079635 10.1017/s0031182019001501 0031-1820 [F B010079635] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010079635 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/depot/2021-02-17/010079635.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2020-05-19 2025-02-24 fdi:010079635 fre