Understanding the pathomechanism of cancer is of primary interest in medical research (Trosko and Rauch, 1998; Bjerkvig et al., 2005). In the past century, several mechanisms were proposed. It was hypothesized that cancer arises from a single cell that loses its differentiated state through sequential mutations. This initiation-promotion-progression concept explains the steps in a sequential process. Later, this hypothesis led to the mutagenic and recently the oncogenic theories, which hypothesize that defects in tumor suppressor genes are responsible for the development of cancer. The impairment of cell-to-cell communication as a cause of cancer has also been postulated.
One fascinating finding is that immunosuppressive cytotoxic antineoplastic therapies may, on occasion, cause the regression of a clinically established cancer. At first, applying this as a therapeutic strategy may seem counterintuitive, considering the fundamental role of the immune system in protecting the body against infectious organisms and aberrant cells. In addition, cancer itself is frequently immunosuppressive, so exacerbating a pre-existing immunosuppression may not seem like a rational strategy.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Benmiloud, M., Chaouki, M.L., Gutekunst, R.,Teichert, H.M., Wood, W.G., and Dunn, J.T.1994. Oral iodized oil for correcting iodine deficiency: optimal dosing and outcome indicatorselection. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 79: 20–24
Bjerkvig, R., Tysnes, B.B., Aboody, K.S., Najbauer, J .,and Terzis, A.J.A. 2005. The origin of the cancer stem cell: current controversies and new insights.Nat. Rev. Cancer 5: 899–904
Burstein, S.A. 1997. Cytokines, platelet production and hemostasis. Platelets 8: 93–104
Caine, G.J., Stonelake, P.S., Lip, G.Y.H., and Kehoe, S.T. 2002. The hypercoagulable state of malignancy: pathogenesis and current debate.Neoplasia 6: 465–473
Citovsky, V., Rottem, S., Nussbaum, O., Laster, Y.,Rott, R., and Loyter, A. 1988. Animal viruses are able to fuse with prokaryotic cells. Fusion between Sendai or influenza virions and Mycoplasma.J. Biol. Chem.263: 461–467
Contardi, E., Palmisano, G.L., Tazzari, P.L.,Martelli, A.M., Fala, F., Fabbi, M., Kato, T.,Lucarelli, E., Donati, D., Polito, L., Bolognesi, A.,Ricci, F., Salvi, S., Gargaglione, V., Mantero, S.,Alberghini, M., Ferrara, G.B., and Pistillo, M.P.2005. CTLA-4 is constitutively expressed on tumor cells and can trigger apoptosis upon lig-and interaction. Int. J. Cancer.117: 538–550
Dean, M., Fojo, T., and Bates, S. 2005. Tumour stem cells and drug resistance. Nat. Rev. Cancer 5: 275–284
Degos, L. 1992. All-trans-retinoic acid treatment and retinoic acid receptor alpha gene rearrange ment in acute promyelocytic leukemia: a model for differentiation therapy. Int. J. Cell. Cloning 10: 63–69
Donati, M.B. 1995. Cancer and thrombosis: from phlegmasia alba dolens to transgenic mice.Thromb. Haemost. 74: 278–281
Dvorak, H.F. 1986. Tumor: wounds that do not heal. .N. Engl. J. Med,. 315: 1650–1659
Dvorak, H.F., Senger, D.R., and Dvorak, A.M.1983. Fibrin as a component of the tumor stroma: origins and biological significance.Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2: 41–73
Esmon, T.C. 2004. Interactions between the innate immune system and blood coagulation systems.Trends Immunol. 25: 536–542
Gately, M.K., Glaser, M., McCarron, R.M., Dick,S.J., Dick, M.D., Mettetal, R.W., and Kornblith,P.L. 1982. Mechanisms by which human glio-mas may escape cellular immune attack. Acta Neurochir. 64: 175–197
Gonzalez, M.J., Miranda-Massari, J.R., Mora,E.M., Guzman, A., Riordan, N.H., Riordan,H.D., Casciari, J.J., Jackson, J.A., and Roman-Franco, A. 2005. Ascorbic acid and cancer 25 years later. .Integrative Cancer Ther. 4: 35–44
Grandics, P. 2003. Cancer: a single disease with a multitude of manifestions? J. Carcinog. 2: 9
Grandics, P. 2006a. The cancer stem cell: evidence for its origin as an injured autoreactive T Cell..Mol. Cancer. 5: 6
Grandics, P. 2006b. Complete remission achieved in a case of adult acute myelogeneous leuke mia by a novel nutritional therapy. J. Altern.Complement Med. 12: 311–315
Griffiths, J.D., McKinna, J.A., Rowbotham,H.D., Tsolakidis, P., and Salsbury, A.J. 1973.Carcinoma of the colon and rectum: circulating malignant cells and five-year survival. Cancer 31: 226–236
Heimburger, D.C., Alexander, C.B., Birch, R.,Butterworth, C.E. Jr, Bailey, W.C., and Krumdieck, C.L. 1988. Improvement in bron chial squamous cell metaplasia in smokers treated with folic acid and vitamin B-12. Report of a preliminary randomized, double-blind inter vention trial. JAMA 259: 1525–1530
Hejna, M. Raderer, M. and Zelinski, C.C. 1999.Inhibition of metastases by anticoagulants. JNCI 91: 22–36
Hilleman, M.R. 2004. Strategies and mechanisms for host and pathogen survival in acute and persistent viral infections. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA 101: 14560–14566
Houghton, J, Stoicov, C., Nomura, S., Rogers,A.B., Carlson, J., Li, H., Cai, X., Fox, J.G.,Goldenring, J.R., and Wang, T.C. 2004. Gastric cancer originating from bone marrow-derived cells. Science 306: 1568–1571
Ketcham, C.M., Anai, S., Reutzel, R., Sheng, S.,Schuster, S.M., Brenes, R.B., Agbandje-McKenna, M., McKenna, R., Rosser, C.J., and Boehlein, S.K. 2005. p37 Induces tumor inva-siveness. Mol. Cancer Ther. 4: 1031–1038
Kovacs, A. 1983. Process for the preparations of anti-tumor therapeutics. Hungarian Patent No. 200093 B
Kovacs, A. 2006. Personal communication
Lawrence, J.G. 2005. Horizontal and vertical gene transfer: the life history of pathogens. Contrib.Microbiol. 12: 255–271
Mackall, C.L. 2000. T-cell immunodeficiency following cytotoxic antineoplastic therapy:A review. Stem Cells 18: 10–18
Marquez, M., Nilsson, S., Lennartsson, L., Liu, Z.,Tammela, T., Raitanen, M., and Holmberg, A.R.2004. Charge-dependent targeting: Results in six tumor cell lines. Anticancer Res. 24: 1347–1352
Melief, C.J., Toes, R.E., Medema, J.P., Van der Burg, S.H., Ossendorp, F., and Offringa, R.2000. Strategies for immunotherapy of cancer.Adv. Immunol. 75: 235–282
Netea, M.G., Van der Meer, J.W.M., and Kullberg, B-J. 2004. Toll-like receptors as an escape mechanism from host defense. Trends Microbiol. 12: 484–488
Otton, R., and Curi, R. 2005. Toxicity of a mixture of fatty acids on human blood lymphocytes and leu kaemia cell lines. Toxicol. In Vitro 19: 749–755
Stoler, D.L., Chen, N., Basik, M., Kahlenberg, M.S.,Rodriguez-Bigas, M.A., Petrelli. N.J., and Anderson,G.R. 1999. The onset and extent of genomic insta bility in sporadic colorectal tumor progression.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96: 15121–15126
Strickler, H.D., Wylie-Rosett, J., Rohan, T., Hoover,D.R., Smoller, S., Burk, R.D., and Yu, H. 2001.The relation of type 2 diabetes and cancer.Diabetes Technol. Ther. 3: 263–274
Szathmary, S. 2005. Immunomodulation of patho gen-host interactions, PhD Thesis, Szent Istvan University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,Budapest, Hungary
Thun, M.J., Namboodiri, M.M., and Heath, C.W.Jr. 1991. Aspirin use and reduced risk of fatal colon cancer. N. Engl. J. Med. 325: 1593–1596
Tirapu, I., Mazzolini, G., Rodriguez-Calvillo, M.,Arina, A., Palencia, B., Gabari, I., and Melero, I.2002. Effective Tumor Immunotherapy: start the engine, release the brakes, step on the gas pedal, and get ready to face autoimmunity. Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp. 50:13–18
Trosko, J.E. and Rauch, R.J. 1998. Cell-cell communication in carcinogenesis. Front. Biosci. 3:208–236
Trousseau, A. 1865. Phlegmasia alba dolens. In:Clinique Medicale de l'Hotel -Dieu de Paris, vol.3, 2nd edn. Balliere, Paris: 654–712
Tyler, K.L., and Fields, B.N. 1996. Pathogenesis of viral infections. In: Fields Virology, Fields B.N.,Knipe D.M., Howley P.M. Eds. Philadelphia,Lippincott-Raven: 173–203
Worthington, V. 2002. Analyzing data to compare nutrients in conventional versus organic crops.J. Altern. Complement Med. 8: 529–532
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer Science + Business Media B.V
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Grandics, P. (2008). New Insights into the Role of Infection,Immunity and Apoptosis in the Genesis of the Cancer Stem Cell. In: Hayat, M.A. (eds) General Methods and Overviews, Lung Carcinoma and Prostate Carcinoma. Methods of Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy, and Prognosis, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8442-3_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8442-3_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-8441-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-8442-3
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)