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. 2014 Dec 20;107(2):dju405.
doi: 10.1093/jnci/dju405. Print 2015 Feb.

A cancer theory kerfuffle can lead to new lines of research

Stuart G Baker

A cancer theory kerfuffle can lead to new lines of research

Stuart G Baker. J Natl Cancer Inst. .

Abstract

The standard viewpoint that cancer is a genetic disease is often stated as a fact rather than a theory. By not acknowledging that it is a theory, namely the Somatic Mutation Theory (SMT), researchers are limiting their progress. An attractive alternative to SMT is the tissue organization field theory (TOFT), which is summarized as "development gone awry." To initiate a kerfuffle, I discuss the interpretation of various results under both TOFT and SMT, including recurrent mutations, hereditary cancers, induction of tumors in transgenic experiments, remission of tumors following the inhibition of enzymes activated by mutated genes, nongenotoxic carcinogens, denervation experiments, foreign-body carcinogenesis, transplantation experiments, and tumors with zero mutations. Thinking in terms of TOFT can spur new lines of research; examples are given related to the early detection of cancer.

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Comment in

  • Re: a cancer theory kerfuffle can lead to new lines of research.
    Kaye FJ. Kaye FJ. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015 Mar 11;107(5):djv060. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djv060. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015. PMID: 25766401 No abstract available.
  • Response.
    Baker SG. Baker SG. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015 Mar 11;107(5):djv061. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djv061. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015. PMID: 25766402 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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