Neoplastic progression of tumor stroma

Recent studies of breast cancer revealed that both epithelium and stroma participate in tumor progression.  Any change of the epithelium is accompanied by the stroma. Since generally stroma controls epithelium, it might proclaim metaphorically: “Everything you can do I can do better” (Irving Berlin).

Which requires a thorough re-examination of the current view of tumor progression. According to the somatic mutation theory (SMT) epithelial mutationsdrive cancer. Which might be false since the real tumor driving mutations might be in the stroma.

Whole genome association studies fail to distinguish between epithelium and stroma mutations.  When finding a mutation, they do not know its histological origin.

Let’s examine two  studies of stroma mutations. And explain the histological background.

Tumor is an organ consisting of  neoplastic TDLUs. Actually neoplastic progression is an organogenesis manifested by genetic mutations in its components. Hitherto it was assumed that only epithelium displays gene mutations. Recent studies like the two that I described show that similar gene mutations are in the lamina propria.

Current dogma states mutations are random gene malfunctions that drive neoplasia. However since even advanced tumors display TDLU units, neoplastic progression is somehow controled.

I suggest  that during neoplastic progression organism controls tumor growth and induces gene mutations, which I describe in other presentations:

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