Advances in Cancer Research 5. [antikvár]

I. Introduction Tumor-host relations usually are regarded as those changes produced in the tissues of the host remote from the tumor and in which no evidence of metastatic malignant cells is found (Begg, 1955a). The older name of "systemic effects of tumors" is more precise, since tumor-host relations implies a two-way relation which does indeed exist. Increasing reference is being made to the dependence of the tumor on the host; while this is better defined in terms of hormone dependent tumors (Furth, 1953; Noble, 1957), it has become evident also in the field of nutrition and other aspects that will be mentioned. Peyton Rous (1947), discussing the implications of the hormonal control of cancer of the prostate, wrote: "The significance of this discovery far transcends its practical application; for it means that thought and endeavor in cancer research have been misdirected in consequence of the belief that tumor cells are anarchic." Autonomy of the cancer cell is a relative matter, and there is an effect of the host on the tumor. The present review will not be concerned with this aspect of the relationship, but will be confined to the effect of the tumor on the host. The reader should con-