A Speculation on the Nature of the Chemical Structure which is the Essence of the Malignant Cell

Abstract

ALTHOUGH it must be presumed that the chemical constitution of the cancer cell diverges in some subtle yet profound manner from the non-malignant, up to the present definite suggestions as to the manner of this difference have not been formulated in terms of atoms and molecules. Thus evidence for abnormal respiratory exchange has been adduced by many investigators and rebutted by other workers; the secret of malignancy has been attributed to chromosome abnormalities, to gene mutation, lack of hormone balance, irregularity of enzyme constitution, etc.