Understanding cancer as a formless phenomenon

Complex living organisms possess qualities that cannot be reduced to the simple addition of quantities. Among such qualities are a specific form and a specific organization. Thinking about morphological aspects is a prime example of the qualitative approach to biological matters. Such a morphogenetic perspective has been continuously developed, both theoretically and experimentally, along the past century, even though it is now rather marginal within a mainstream dominated by molecular biology. However, the morphogenetic outlook can be applied to the understanding of complex biological phenomena, such as cancer. This phenomenon is currently explained as a cellular problem caused by specific gene mutations and/or specific loss of gene regulation. Nevertheless, cancer is a problem that affects the whole organism. Contemporary research based on the genetic paradigm of cancer causation has led to paradoxes and anomalies that cannot be explained within such a reductionist paradigm. Here it is proposed that real, non-experimental, sporadic cancer may be understood as a conflict between an organized morphology (the organism) and a part of such a morphology that drifts towards an amorphous state (the tumour). Thus, rare, sporadic cancer in children can be the result of early disruption of the developmental constraints before the organism has achieved its morphological maturity. While common sporadic cancer in aged individuals may ensue as a result of the weakening or exhaustion of the developmental constraints that determine the morphological stability of the organism, once the organism is past its reproductive prime. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.