From Cancer Drivers to Cancer Keepers: Paradigm Shift and Clinical Implications

Abstract

Cancer research has traditionally focused on identifying driver genes, those with mutations that initiate tumorigenesis. The Cancer Driver Gene (CDG) paradigm, further supported by the observation of oncogene addiction in tumors, has successfully guided the development of targeted therapies. However, the limitations of this driver-centric view, highlighted by the broad emergence of frequent therapeutic resistance, the presence of driver mutations in healthy tissues or individuals, and the lack of identifiable drivers in many tumors, call for a shift in perspective and clinical practice. The latest network controllability perspective on cancer cells introduced the concept of Cancer Keeper Genes (CKGs) and a CKG-based paradigm for cancer therapeutics. The new concept encompasses the concept of non-oncogene addiction, emphasizing reliance on non-mutated pathways crucial for maintaining oncogenic cellular states. Here, we explore the transition towards a system-level understanding of cancer based on the CKG paradigm, emphasizing the essential role of genes required for tumor maintenance, irrespective of their initiating function or mutational capacity. We discuss clinical implications of this paradigm shift, highlighting the progress made so far and potential of targeting non-driver CKGs, genes involved in processes like DNA damage response, proteostasis, and metabolism, as a promising strategy to overcome therapeutic challenges and achieve more durable cancer control. Targeting these maintenance vulnerabilities represents a critical evolution in precision oncology, moving towards therapies designed to dismantle the networks sustaining malignancies.