clonal sweep
The rapid expansion of a single tumor clone that outcompetes other cellular populations, often following acquisition of a selective advantage.
Full Definition
Clonal sweep describes the evolutionary process where one tumor cell clone rapidly expands to dominate the tumor population, typically after acquiring a mutation that confers significant selective advantage such as drug resistance or enhanced proliferative capacity. This process results in reduced genetic diversity within the tumor as the advantaged clone displaces previously dominant populations. Clonal sweeps can occur naturally during tumor progression or be induced by therapeutic pressure that selects for resistant clones. In cancer genomics, clonal sweeps are detected through serial sampling showing dramatic shifts in variant allele frequencies and clonal composition. Understanding sweep dynamics is crucial for predicting treatment resistance and designing combination therapies to prevent clonal dominance.
Usage
Usage note: Emphasize rapid dominance versus gradual evolution; often therapy-associated.
In Context
- "The resistant clone underwent clonal sweep, becoming dominant within three months of treatment." — Longitudinal genomic analysis
- "Clonal sweep eliminated previous genetic diversity following acquisition of the resistance mutation." — Tumor evolution study