The Sub-Molecular and Atomic Theory of Cancer Beginning: The Role of Mitochondria

Abstract

Life as we know it is made of strict interaction of atom, metabolism, and genetics, made around the chemistry of the most common elements of the universe: hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and carbon. The interaction of atomic, metabolic, and genetic cycles results in the organization and de-organization of chemical information of what we consider living entities, including cancer cells. In order to approach the problem of the origin of cancer, it is therefore reasonable to start from the assumption that the atomic structure, metabolism, and genetics of cancer cells share a common frame with prokaryotic mitochondria, embedded in conditions favorable for the onset of both. Despite years of research, cancer in its general acceptation remains enigmatic. Despite the increasing efforts to investigate the complexity of tumorigenesis, complementing the research on genetic and biochemical changes, researchers face insurmountable limitations due to the huge presence of variabilities in cancer and metastatic behavior. The atomic level of all biological activities it seems confirmed the electron behavior, especially within the mitochondria. The electron spin may be considered a key factor in basic biological processes defining the structure, reactivity, spectroscopic, and magnetic properties of a molecule. The use of magnetic fields (MF) has allowed a better understanding of the grade of influence on different biological systems, clarifying the multiple effects on electron behavior and consequently on cellular changes. Scientific advances focused on the mechanics of the cytoskeleton and the cellular microenvironment through mechanical properties of the cell nucleus and its connection to the cytoskeleton play a major role in cancer metastasis and progression. Here, we present a hypothesis regarding the changes that take place at the atomic and metabolic levels within the human mitochondria and the modifications that probably drive it in becoming cancer cell. We propose how atomic and metabolic changes in structure and composition could be considered the unintelligible reason of many cancers' invulnerability, as it can modulate nuclear mechanics and promote metastatic processes. Improved insights into this interplay between this sub-molecular organized dynamic structure, nuclear mechanics, and metastatic progression may have powerful implications in cancer diagnostics and therapy disclosing innovation in targets of cancer cell invasion.

Keywords: atoms; cancer; electrons; mitochondria; neutrons; protons.

Figure 1

k = 8.99 × 109 N·m²C², a universal constant called the Coulomb constant, q1 is the charge of particle 1, q2 is the charge of particle 2, and r is the distance between the two particles. (a) Like charges; (b) unlike charges.

Figure 2

Ionization energy for main elements (hydrogen, carbon, oxygen) in cell chemistry. Ionization energy is the amount of energy that an isolated gaseous atom in the ground electronic state must absorb to discharge an electron, resulting in a cation (x = atomic number) (y = IE quantity needed by the atom to detach the electron).

Figure 3

The mean values of the fractal dimension of different cancer for different stages. Normal Stage I Stage II Stage III Pancreatic 1.5984 1.6673 1.6866 1.7047 Breast 1.5448 1.6126 1.6631 1.7283 Colon 1.5551 1.6393 1.6652 1.7004 Prostate 1.5737 1.5981 1.6302 1.6798. Permission has been obtained from the article Fractal Dimension Analysis to Detect the Progress of Cancer Using Transmission Optical Microscopy Authors [18].

Figure 4

The graph shows plot of the number of neutrons versus the number of protons in various stable isotopes. The stable nuclei (pink band) have a neutron/proton ratio between 1:1 and 1.5. As the nucleus gets bigger, the electrostatic repulsions between the protons gets weaker. The nuclear strong force is about 100 times as strong as the electrostatic repulsions. It operates over only short distances. After a certain size, the strong force is not able to hold the nucleus together. Adding extra neutrons increases the space between the protons. This decreases their repulsions but, if there are too many neutrons, the nucleus is again out of balance and decays (wps.prenhall.com). Accessed on 24 September 2022.