Viewing cancer as a chaotic ‘information processing system’

Abstract

AbstractThe effort to define life encompasses a wide range of disciplines, from biology and physics to spirituality. Traditionally, replies were restricted to specialized specialties, resulting in disjointed solutions. Cancer research has mostly concentrated on genetic and cellular factors. This essay aims to reframe the way we think about cancer by looking at it through the perspective of information processing. It investigates the cybernetic component of life, perceiving it as a unified system of information processing at all scales. Stem cell research reveals their complex heterogeneity and flexibility, which are critical for tissue repair and development. Initially thought to be harmful, chaotic gene expression is now acknowledged to provide cellular flexibility. Using chaos to improve adaptation contrasts with the unpredictability of evolution, showcasing the system's ability to learn and adapt. Creativity, disorder and chaos interact, opening up new avenues for new ideas. This viewpoint opposes the gene‐centric view of cancer and highlights the importance of understanding biological processes beyond genetic reductionism. The essay finishes by pushing for a paradigm change towards seeing cancer as an informational process rather than just a hereditary disease and encouraging a better knowledge of the information processing capabilities of cellular life.