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Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...

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Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Modeling Astrocytoma Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo Using Cortical Astrocytes or Neural Stem Cells from Conditional, Genetically Engineered Mice

Modeling Astrocytoma Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo Using Cortical Astrocytes or Neural Stem Cells from Conditional, Genetically Engineered Mice

Published on: August 12, 2014

Regeneration versus neoplastic growth

¹Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

|August 1, 1997

Summary

Mammalian cancer may be rare without the loss of amphibian-like regenerative capacity, often due to injury or aging. This regenerative ability, distinct from normal tissue renewal, is key to preventing oncogenesis.

Area of Science:

Regenerative medicine
Oncology
Comparative biology

Background:

Amphibian tissues exhibit remarkable resistance to oncogenesis, correlating with their limb regeneration capabilities.
Mammalian tissues possess a latent, amphibian-like regenerative capacity (epimorphic regeneration) distinct from physiological renewal.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose a novel hypothesis linking mammalian cancer occurrence to the diminished regenerative capacity.
To explore the role of injury and aging in compromising epimorphic regeneration and promoting oncogenesis.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on amphibian and mammalian regeneration.
Comparative analysis of oncogenesis resistance and regenerative potential across species.
Theoretical modeling of cancer development based on regenerative capacity.

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Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Modeling Astrocytoma Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo Using Cortical Astrocytes or Neural Stem Cells from Conditional, Genetically Engineered Mice

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The Influence of Liver Resection on Intrahepatic Tumor Growth

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Main Results:

A strong correlation exists between regenerative capacity and oncogenesis resistance in amphibians.
Mammalian tissues retain a suppressed epimorphic regenerative potential.
Local destruction or exhaustion of this capacity, via injury or aging, is hypothesized to be a prerequisite for cancer.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of mammalian cancer may be significantly reduced if epimorphic regenerative capacity is maintained.
Understanding and potentially restoring this latent regenerative ability could offer new avenues for cancer prevention and treatment.
This hypothesis reframes cancer as a failure of regenerative processes rather than solely an uncontrolled proliferation.