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Abstract:
A conceptual structure for the relevancy assessment of cancer theories to clinical cancer is presented. The organism is stratified into hierarchies among which, the cell represents the lowest. Cells are aggregated into tissues and tissues, into organs. Organs are assembled into organ systems constituting the human organism. In each hierarchy an elementary unit, or holon is defined. Since structures in the organism are generally characterized by specific functions they perform, it is possible to define also hierarchies of functions and assess their importance quo ad vitam. This hierarchical classification serves here for the grouping of theories and observations in cancer. Genetic mutation or cell fusion for instance belong to the subcellular hierarchy. Observations made on single cells e.g. locomotion or adhesion, belong to the cell hierarchy. Tissue culture experiments are grouped into the tissue hierarchy, while carcinogen induced neoplasms are organ system hierarchy experiments. Medicine operates in the organismic hierarchy regarded herewith as the highest.