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Chemical carcinogenesis — the price for DNA-repair?

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Abstract

This essay examines the possibility of merging the mutation theory of cancer with the hypothesis that cancer is a change in the state of the differentiation of cells. It is suggested that during normal development DNA rearrangements occur, concerning genes which code for differentiation specific cell communication proteins. These proteins are responsible for the proper functioning of growth control in a multicellular organism. DNA-damaging agents — mutagens — induce DNA repair enzymes, some of which may catalyse illegitimate genome rearrangements, thus leading to a change of the balance between growth and differentiation. A cell with a selective advantage may arise and become the origin of a tumor.

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  1. Institut für Krebsforschung der Universität, A-1090, Wien

    Ulrike Wintersberger

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  1. Ulrike Wintersberger
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I am most grateful to J. Cairns, L. Jaenicke, H.J. Becker and E. Wintersberger for critically reading of an earlier version of this essay. The studies leading to the considerations presented were started during a stay at the Department of Molecular Biology of the University of Geneva during the summer 1978, which was supported by the Swiss-Austrian Research Exchange Programme. They were also highly promoted by discussions with D. Clive during a visit of the Wellcome Toxicology Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, USA (summer 1979), which was sponsered in part by an ICRETT grant from UICC.

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Wintersberger, U. Chemical carcinogenesis — the price for DNA-repair?. Naturwissenschaften 69, 107–113 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00376714

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