Chromosomal copy number heterogeneity predicts survival rates across cancers

Abstract Survival rates of cancer patients vary widely within and between malignancies. While genetic aberrations are at the root all cancers, individual genomic features cannot explain these distinct disease outcomes. In contrast, intra-tumour heterogeneity (ITH) has potential to elucidate pan-cancer survival biology that drives prognosis. Unfortunately, a comprehensive effective framework measure ITH across cancers is missing. Here, we introduce scalable chromosomal copy number (CNH) predicts patient cancers. We show level can be derived from single-sample profile. Using gene-expression data live cell imaging demonstrate ongoing instability underlies observed heterogeneity. Analysing 11,534 primary samples 37 different malignancies, find accurately deduced tissues origin stages disease. Our results provide unifying molecular explanation for types.