Remarks on evolutionary and conceptual aspects of the basic mechanism of carcinogenesis

Resumen

The evolution of metazoans including embryogenesis permits dysdedifferentiation processes that result in a neoplastic phenotype. Since in one study over fifty percent of carcinogens were found not to be mutagenic, other processes must be considered for any basic mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Selecting from potential mechanisms with special reference to epigenetic aspects and drawing from ethionine-induced embryonic gene experiments, it was concluded that direct epigenetic or mutation-perturbed epigenetic mechanism best fit the findings. A basic mechanism derived from this work is as follows. There is a preferential deheterochromatization by carcinogens of embryonic type genes. This is allowed by virtue of a differential type of heterochromatin created during embryogenesis that gives the neoplastic state.

Key words: Carcinogenesis, evolution, heterocromatin, epigeneist, mutagenesis, DNA-methylation, embryonic genes, ehtionine, alpha-fetoprotein, S-adenosyl-L-methionine, dysdedifferentiation.