Med Hypotheses. 1986 Sep;21(1):105-15. |
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Cancer is a metabolic deficiency.
Zajicek G.
Cancer is regarded here as a metabolic deficiency originating in stem cell
destruction. Tissue stem cells are postulated to secrete a vital substance 'A'
necessary for proper tissue function. Carcinogens interfere with 'A' production
mainly by destroying stem cells which the organism is incapable of fully
replenishing so that less 'A' is produced. This irreversible 'A' deficiency may
be compensated by a substitute, or substance 'B', produced by a specialized
organ, the neoplasm. Since carcinogens continue depleting more and more stem
cells, the deficiency worsens. In order to meet the increasing demand, the
neoplasm proliferates more and more until reaching a stage of decompensation
when the harm inflicted by it outweighs its benefit. Stem cell depletion is
regarded here as the final common pathway for carcinogen action. The theory
predicts that following a supply of 'A' producing stem cells or inactivated 'B'
producing neoplastic stem cells, the tumor will regress.
PMID: 3641024 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]