Somatic hybridization and oncogenesis; (Mechanism of formation of malignant tumors and metastases by the action of antilymphocytic serum).

Abstract

The results of experiments carried out to test some of the consequences of the earlier general theory of oncogenesis, according to which the malignant tumor cell can arise as a result of somatic hybridization of cells of different organ- and tissue-specificity, are described. In the first series a tumor induced by cellophane film, was grafted into syngeneic and allogeneic mice, and antilymphocytic serum (ALS) was then injected. Metastases occurred only in allogeneic recipients receiving ALS. It was thus shown that the ability of cells of this particular tumor to metastasize is not a property inherent in its cells but is acquired by them as a result of interaction with the recipient organism. In the second series it was shown by two immunological methods that the cells of metastases arising under these conditions contain tissue compatibility antigens of donor and recipient origin, i. e., that they are somatic hybridsmin the third series skin from individuals of another strain was grafted on to mice and ALS was injected; hepatomas developed in 74% of these mice. The theory is used to explain several phenomena of carcinogenesis not explicable by other theories: the phenotypic nature of cell transformation, the causes and nature of the duration of the latent period of tumor development, the mechanism responsible for the ability of tumors to overcome the system of immunological defense, the mechanism of activation of endogeneous oncogenic viruses, etc. Finally an answer is given to the question: what is a tumor?