Cell competition in homeostasis and during tumorigenesis of mammalian epithelia

Abstract

Cell competition is a process that controls tissue quality by mediating cell growth. It plays a role in maintaining homeostasis, embryonic development, tissue repair and was recently established to influence tumorigenesis as well. In this process, neighbouring cells within a tissue compare cellular fitness through both direct and indirect interactions, that result in the elimination of the least fit cell population. As a consequence, the fittest cells remain and take over the tissue, thereby ensuring tissue quality. This review discusses recent insights of cell competition in mammals, shedding a light on the signalling pathways involved in this process and illuminating the role of cell competition as both a tumour-suppressing, and a tumour-promoting mechanism.