Essais d'élaboration des voies d'approche à la chimiothérapie du cancer. Action sur l'eau d'hydratation des tissus néoplasiques; action sur les protéines

Summary

The recent successes in chemotherapy suggest that a solution of the same order should now be possible for cancer. The cause of cancer being still unknown, the therapeutic action aimed at is the creation in the organism of conditions unfavorable for cell multiplication. Certain of the factors essential for cell growth, such as the hydrocarbons, have already been studied in this light. The author has demonstrated the possibility of influencing the high degree of hydration of tumor tissue by the use of substances capable of effecting a homogeneous distribution of the dispersed substances in the aqueous phase. Furthermore, it was proposed to influence the protein repair accompanying cell multiplication by means of substances having an affinity for proteins. This was done to effect a condensation of protein elements before they reach the tumor, thus producing a return to the normal concentration of the free protein fraction, and, at the same time, a decrease in the turn-over of these elements through the tumor. Electrophoretic measurements made with theTiselius apparatus have made it possible to follow protein affinity and to suggest the synthesis of compounds containing quinone and imine groups which may prove valuable in future investigations along these lines.