The Culmination of Neoplastic Development in the Mammal

Abstract

Comparative pathology and oncology must raise the question, where is the culmination of neoplastic growth to be found? Where are the neoplastic diseases most highly diversified and specialized? What role is played by the body plan (morphology, physiology and biochemistry)? What is the influence of the ecology of the particular organism? The different population groups of mammals, including man himself and perhaps the dog, may afford us answers, if the conditions are compared with other appropriate organisms. It is worthwhile to look at the situation of the mammal, since it arose with three-rooted teeth as unambiguous marker in the upper Triassic period of the earth history.