Lymphocytes and cells in malignant transformation: similarities and possible relationship between the two cell types

This paper points out some similarities between the behaviour and characteristics of lymphocytes and their transformation to lymphoblasts on one hand and malignant cells on the other. The areas of similarity are (1) anomalous communicating junction formation; (2) recruitment of neighbouring cells; (3) random antigen expression; (4) Fc synthesis; (5) stimulation by immune attack; (6) relation to a plasminogen activator, and (7) inhibition of stimulation by trypsin inhibitors. It is argued that, considering the anomalous membrane characteristics shown by lymphocytes and malignant cells and the list of similarities, carcinogenesis could represent a normal cell line infected with lymphocytic information. Two incidental ideas are presented based on the main idea. These concern lymphocytes but are related to malignant cells and their characteristics too. They are (1) a mechanism whereby generation of randomness in the variable region of Ig molecules could take place, and (2) a mechanism whereby the lymphocyte, in order to kill its target, could use the normal cell's propensity to form communicating intercellular junctions.