EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Product Description For more than 30 years, the majority of researchers has assumed quiescence to be the default state of all cells and so have provided cells in culture with 'growth factors' to stimulate them to proliferate. During this time, many putative growth factors have been identified and ever more complex mechanisms through which they could interact and stimulate cells have been proposed. However, quiescence as the default state does not make evolutionary sense and many sets of data do not support this hypothesis. In The Society of Cells, an alternative explanation for these results is proposed by applying the premise that the default state must be proliferation, with multiplication being a 'built in' property of all forms of life. The authors begin by reviewing the concepts and theories that guide research on the control of cell proliferation and cancer, and asking the question 'what is the nature of the default state of all cells - quiescence or proliferation?'. Later chapters concern cancer, where control of cell proliferation and the tissue organisation are defective. Despite decades of work and financial support to explore the somatic mutation theory of carcinogenesis, we appear no nearer to explaining how cancer arises. This requires researchers to take stock and consider new hypotheses and alternative approaches to the study of control of cell proliferation, and cancer in particular. The Society of Cells is intended to encourage such a revaluation and proposes the adoption of new premises to explore these important subjects.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 3 reviews)
One book to read The controversy is about the default status of any cell, is it idle or is it proliferating. Author provides many experimental facts indicating that it is prioliferating. Most interesting was EPO hormone delivered by the kidneys to boost erythrocyte production in which case author indicates that EPO hormone doe not increase the production but rather inhibits the immature cell dying which in final analysis amounts to increase in erythrocytes. It sound philosophical but it is also rather fundamental issue. I recommend to all persons interested in subject of Microbiology of the Cell. There is not much about the subject of Cancer except the whole theory changes the thinking in the approaches to cell prolifiration. December 20, 2002
Control of cell proliferation The major manifestation of cancer is a tumor. It starts when a normal cell turns cancerous. The progeny of this transformed cell makes the tumor. It is a cell society that continually expands. Cells are born, age and die. Since tumor grows, more and more cells are born. This feature distinguishes the tumor from a normal tissue, whose cell content generally does not increase. Thus the initial transformation of the normal cell is linked with a change of cell control. Harness it and you have solved the riddle of cancer. Most cancer scientists search for this clue in the cell itself, claiming that genetic changes bestow the cancer cell with its proliferative capacity. Accordingly, the newly transformed cancer cell is stimulated to proliferate better than its normal parent and subsequent genetic changes improve this ability. Yet this seemingly simple assumption may be wrong. At least according to what Sonnenschein and Soto claim in their stimulating book. Place, for instance, a piece of healthy skin in tissue culture, and it starts proliferating much faster than in the body. Apparently this normal tissue was freed from body control and proliferates vividly. Like skin, all cells thrive to divide as much as possible but are precluded from achieving their goal by the organism. The organism controls its cells by inhibiting their "natural urge" and any increase of proliferation is achieved by restraining this inhibition, or by "de inhibition." This is the motto of "The Society of Cells", and its novel and important message. Normal as well as cancerous cells are constrained by their society. Sonnenschein and Soto point to an unexplored realm of cancer and their message is clear and vivid. It is directed to cancer specialists, and particularly to biologists that study proliferation. This important book ought to be included in the biological and medical curriculum of students. It is recommended also to the lay public with basic biological knowledge. June 25, 1999
A sobering learning experience. I read this book with apprehension because of it was recommended to me as controversial. This is a messy subject not always treated with insight. The style is direct,pleasant (at times, funny), and not patronizing. the first part on cell proliferation is original and compelling. But,the juiciest part is the one dealing with carcinogenesis.The authors ask the candid questions I was afraid to ask, so not to appear as ignorant before assertive researchers who are more interested in winning an argument than on offering a well-thought line of avidence. The more I read , the more startled I became. these guys seem to know very well their biology, and their sources of information, I was swayed by their idiosyncratic views on how cancer evolves. I wonder what those who are wedded to the never ending story of more and more mutations needed for cancer to arise think about this book (before, I read R.A. Weinberg's "One Renegade Cell", their respective approaches are like day and night. Who is right?). I recommend "The Society of Cells" highly , especially if you don't mind looking at cancer induction on a totally different perspective. A sobering learning experience. April 29, 1999