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Cancer Metastases: So Close and So Far
Carlos Sonnenschein1, Ana M Soto2
1Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA (CS, AMS).
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
|August 19, 2015
Summary
The study compares the somatic mutation theory (SMT) with the tissue organization field theory (TOFT) for understanding cancer metastasis. It concludes that TOFT offers a more comprehensive explanation for carcinogenesis and the development of secondary tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Metastases, responsible for 90% of cancer deaths, are poorly understood.
- The 'seed and soil' hypothesis has long guided research into metastasis.
- Current explanations are controversial due to differing research premises.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the merits of the somatic mutation theory (SMT) and the tissue organization field theory (TOFT) in the context of cancer metastasis.
- To evaluate the explanatory power of each theory regarding carcinogenesis and metastasis.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of the SMT and TOFT.
- Epistemological evaluation of the SMT's shortcomings.
- Assessment of therapeutic approach failures linked to the SMT.
Main Results:
- The SMT, focusing on genetic and molecular aspects, has limitations in explaining metastasis.
- Therapeutic strategies based on the SMT have shown limited success.
- The TOFT presents cancer as a tissue-based disease, offering a different perspective.
Conclusions:
- The tissue organization field theory (TOFT) provides a more comprehensive framework for understanding carcinogenesis and metastasis.
- The SMT's focus on cellular genetics is insufficient for fully explaining metastatic processes.
- Rethinking cancer as a tissue-level phenomenon is crucial for advancing metastasis research.
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