Abstract
The trophoblastic theory of cancer, proposed in the early 1900s by Dr John Beard, may not initially seem relevant to current cancer models and treatments. However, the underpinnings of this theory are remarkably similar to those of the cancer stem cell (CSC) theory. Beard noticed that a significant fraction of germ cells never reach their final destination as they migrate during embryonic development from the hindgut to the germinal ridge. In certain situations, upon aberrant stimulation, these vagrant germ cells are able to generate tumors. Simplistically, the CSC theory surmises that a small population of tumorigenic cells exists, which initiate and maintain tumors, and these cells have a likely origin in normal stem cells. Both these theories are based on the potential of a single primitive cell to form a tumor. This has a major implication for cancer therapy, in that only a small percentage of cells need to be targeted to ablate a tumor.
References
Feb 17, 1994·Nature·T LapidotJ E Dick
Aug 25, 1996·Developmental Biology·P P Tam, S X Zhou
Nov 2, 2001·Nature·T ReyaI L Weissman
Mar 12, 2003·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Muhammad Al-HajjMichael F Clarke
Feb 2, 1963·Nature·A J BECKERJ E TILL
Jul 6, 1963·Nature·W R BRUCE, H VAN DER GAAG
Aug 13, 2004·The New England Journal of Medicine·Catriona H M JamiesonIrving L Weissman
Mar 18, 2006·Cancer·Ronald D BarrJillian M Birch
Aug 15, 2006·Cell·Kazutoshi Takahashi, Shinya Yamanaka
Nov 24, 2006·Nature·Catherine A O'BrienJohn E Dick
Jan 11, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M E PrinceL E Ailles
Jan 25, 2007·Neurosurgery Clinics of North America·Sheila Singh, Peter B Dirks
Feb 7, 2007·Cancer Research·Chenwei LiDiane M Simeone
Jun 8, 2007·Nature·Keisuke OkitaShinya Yamanaka
Aug 29, 2007·Nature Biotechnology·Alexander MeissnerRudolf Jaenisch
Nov 24, 2007·Cell·Kazutoshi TakahashiShinya Yamanaka
Dec 7, 2007·Nature Biotechnology·Masato NakagawaShinya Yamanaka
Dec 25, 2007·Nature·In-Hyun ParkGeorge Q Daley
Feb 16, 2008·Science·Takashi AoiShinya Yamanaka
Feb 21, 2008·Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie·S KisslerS G Schröder
Feb 22, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·W E LowryK Plath
Citations
Apr 23, 2015·International Reviews of Immunology·F GrizziM Chiriva-Internati
May 9, 2014·International Reviews of Immunology·F ArnaboldiMaurizio Chiriva-Internati
Dec 1, 2010·Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation·Uwe D RohrAdolf E Schindler
Aug 25, 2011·Cell Cycle·Nicole Vincent JordanAmy N Abell
Nov 6, 2014·Nutrition and Cancer·Colin A Ross
May 25, 2012·PloS One·Joy S TripovichJohn P Y Arnould
Sep 4, 2009·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Hugh G Dickinson, Robert Grant-Downton
Jun 9, 2016·Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation·Pedro-Antonio RegidorUwe D Rohr
May 11, 2018·Nutrition and Cancer·Colin A Ross
May 13, 2010·Cancer Research·Jae Ho LeeKarim Nayernia