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The chromosomal and genetic abnormalities of cancer: Which one is the cause?

Explore the debate between genetic and chromosomal theories of cancer causation, challenging existing beliefs and presenting testable explanations. Discover how the chromosomal theory offers new insights into the complexities of cancer development.

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The chromosomal and genetic abnormalities of cancer: Which one is the cause?

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  1. The chromosomal and genetic abnormalities of cancer: Which one is the cause? Asilomar, Jan. 7-9, 2007 Peter Duesberg, Alice Fabarius, Ruediger Hehlmann and Ruhong Li

  2. Cancer: a genetic or a chromosomal disease?

  3. The genetic cancer theory

  4. The genetic cancer theory According to the NCI 2-6 mutations cause cancer [NCI: Under-standing Cancer Series, 2007].

  5. The genetic theory turns a blind eye to cancer-specific aneuploidy According to the NCI and research supported by it, mutations cause cancer by changing the cell’s morphology and “color” – but not its karyotype. NCI website 2006: Karyotype normal = ca = 22 chromosome pairs + X,Y

  6. Yet, the karyotypes of cancers are very abnormal Karyotype of a human colon cancer: Highly aneuploid, with 15 rearranged marker chromosomes Karyotype of a diploid human cell (male)

  7. Karyotype of a breast cancer cell MDA231-4

  8. Landmarks of cancer not explained by genetic theory

  9. Landmarks of carcinogenesis not explained by genetic theory

  10. The genetic cancer theory also has genetic Achilles heels

  11. Age-dependent incidence of cancer

  12. Chromosomal cancer theory

  13. Carcino-genesis as chain reaction of aneuploid-izations

  14. Despite questioning the orthodoxy, I expected a full absolution for this attractive new cancer theory –as on previous occasions …

  15. Instead – The empire strikes back …

  16. Coulter et al. now claim 6 mutations are “sufficient” for tumorigenicity

  17. But Coulter also provides evidence that 6 mutations are not “sufficient”

  18. The chromosomal theory offers testable explanations

  19. The chromosomes of Coulter’s “converted cells” are unstable Conclusion: Half of cells of Mu6 line are randomly aneuploid.

  20. Karyotype of an aneuploid Mu6 cell Trisomy 7, and a marker derived from Chrom. 1

  21. Chromosomal theory explains low transformation rates of “converted” cells

  22. By contrast the mutation theory predicts

  23. Testing spontaneous appearance of 3-dimensional foci: about 1 per 100,000 Mu6 cells Mu6 monolayer Mu6 focus

  24. Clonalaneuploidies of 8 Mu6 foci: some stable others evolving

  25. Moreover, 3 of 8 foci are intrinsically resistant to ara-C.Mu6 line is ara-C- sensitive. Back to Table.

  26. In sum the 6 mutations were not “sufficient”. Instead…

  27. So – Which one is the cause?

  28. END The chromosomal theory of cancer can be falsified by diploid cancers.

  29. Spontaneous focus formation of Mu6 clone 3 Transformation rate: ~ 1 per 10^6 cells

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