Abstract
Intratumoral heterogeneity has been a hot topic of cancer research in recent years, which has become a part of resolving cancer metastasis, recurrence and drug resistance. Intratumoral heterogeneity shows that cells undergo different division and proliferation during the process of tumor development, and their genomic cells exist in the process of tumor development. Protein and epigenetic changes can lead to differences in proliferation, migration and invasion, sensitivity and pharmacological prognosis of tumor cells, promote sustainable development and development of cancer cells, produce greater adaptability, and lead to metastasis, recurrence and drug resistance of malignant tumors. In recent years, the molecular mechanism and clinical application of intratumoral heterogeneity have captivated widespread attention from researchers. In the era of precision medicine, oncologists attempt to improve the clinical efficacy of targeted tumor therapy via intratumoral heterogeneity. In this article, recent advances in the study of intratumoral heterogeneity, molecular mechanism of intratumoral heterogeneity, systematic evolution and quantification and clinical significance of tumor heterogeneity were reviewed.