Is non-genic inheritance involved in carcinogenesis? A cytotactic model of transformation

There is convincing evidence that the patterns formed by microtubules and by other fibres and organelles in ciliates are partly determined by non-genic inherited information, the so-called cytotactic information. There is also some evidence that this exists in metazoan cells and is perhaps involved in neoplastic transformation. On this background a cytotactic model of transformation which allows new interpretation of several characteristics of cancer cells has been developed. It proposes (a) that most cells contain cytotactic information, (b) that mechanisms to repair modifications of this information exist, and (c) that transformation may result when the cytotactic information is modified beyond repair. The model further proposes that (d) the modified cytotactic information is unevenly distributed between daughter cells at the following divisions so that cells with abnormal patterns, increasing pleomorphy and malignancy, and possibly altered gene functions are formed. The cytotactic transformation is proposed to take place in one or in two steps and to be inducible not only by many usual carcinogens but also by for example aborted cell divisions. A cytotactic interpretation of cancers induced by asbestos and of certain other observations is attempted.