The adaptive evolution of cancer driver genes

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a life-threatening disease in humans; yet, cancer genes are frequently reported to be under positive selection. This suggests an evolutionary-genetic paradox in which cancer evolves as a secondary product of selection in human beings. However, systematic investigation of the evolution of cancer driver genes is sparse. RESULTS: Using comparative genomics analysis, population genetics analysis and computational molecular evolutionary analysis, the evolution of 568 cancer driver genes of 66 cancer types were evaluated at two levels, selection on the early evolution of humans (long timescale selection in the human lineage during primate evolution, i.e., millions of years), and recent selection in modern human populations (~ 100,000 years). Results showed that eight cancer genes covering 11 cancer types were under positive selection in the human lineage (long timescale selection). And 35 cancer genes covering 47 cancer types were under positive selection in modern human populations (recent selection). Moreover, SNPs associated with thyroid cancer in three thyroid cancer driver genes (CUX1, HERC2 and RGPD3) were under positive selection in East Asian and European populations, consistent with the high incidence of thyroid cancer in these populations. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that cancer can be evolved, in part, as a by-product of adaptive changes in humans. Different SNPs at the same locus can be under different selection pressures in different populations, and thus should be under consideration during precision medicine, especially for targeted medicine in specific populations. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-023-09301-9.