The physician Celsus (25 BC-50 ), later translated this word into cancer, the Latin word for crab.
Hippocrates used the word carcinoma, comparing the disease to a crab (Καρκίνος) that adheres to its surroundings with his claws ( 1, 2). He proposed that black bile caused incurable cancer, whereas yellow bile caused curable cancer.Īdditionally, the terms and words used to name this disease, and whatever it was associated with, were created by these early 'scientists'. Claudius Galen (130-200), a Greek physician who practiced medicine in Rome, implemented the Hippocrates theory. Hippocrates theory established the foundations of experimental approaches in understanding and confronting cancer, thereafter practiced by all scientists. Whenever black bile became the dominant humours in some part of the body, this developed cancer. He believed that cancers, and more broadly any disease, developed whenever the balance in the four body humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) were lost. Hippocrates hypothesized that this disease was correlated to an excess of black bile. Interestingly, this belief continued to be accepted right up to Hippocrates (460-370 BC), who postulated the earliest scientific theory about cancer. These old Egyptian documents recorded cancer as a grave incurable disease and associated it to 'the curse of the gods' ( 1). Other documented proof includes the Ebers Papyrus dating from 1500 BC that describes several types of tumors concerning skin, uterus, stomach, and rectum. The first description of human cancer can be found in the Edwin Smith Papyrus dated 3000 BC that illustrated a case of breast cancer. From Pre-History to BoveriĬancer has been in existence on Earth even before the appearance of man, as evidenced by paleontological findings of tumors in animals ( 1, 2). Considering the past, and reviewing the milestones of every scientific finding could help in molding future experimental approaches in cancer research. Nevertheless, science should look back to historical achievements in advancing new theories and data. Nowadays, even though scientific research moves ahead rapidly, cancer still needs solid and reliable solutions. Without doubt, the first human transforming gene, and more broadly, oncogenes and anti-oncogenes, had been previously theorized by Theodor Boveri. The discovery of the DNA structure and the achievements of molecular biology have reaffirmed Boveri's theory and given technological support to developments in this field. This knowledge, previously unproved, is a reality in today's research and plays a vital role in the understanding of cancer.Įxactly a century ago, in the book, Zur Frage der Entstehung Maligner Tumoren, Boveri presented his theory on cancer that was based on chromosomal abnormality ( 4- 6).īoveri had no knowledge on the chromosome structure however, his theory today is considered a pillar of modern molecular approaches to cancer.
The relationship between cancer and chemicals captured the interest of scientists since the 18 th century, and this having had a greater impact in the last century. Many of these are fundamental in our modern approaches to the disease.Ĭhemical carcinogenesis was brought to light with the observations of Paracelsus on cancer onset and environmental exposure to chemicals undertaken over six centuries ago ( 1- 3). The scientific path taken to understand cancer is paved with thousands of theories and scientific findings, from the time of Hippocrates to genomics today. Keywords: Cancer theories, oncogenes, genomics. Finally, an overview of how the modern technologies have given impetuous to expedite these goals is also considered.
The review highlights the discovery of oncogenes and suppressor tumor genes, underlining the crucial role of these achievements in cancer diagnosis and therapies. Old theories and achievements have provided the pillars of cancer understanding, in laying the basis of 'modern era' cancer research, are discussed. This review highlights how cancer onset and progression has been tackled from ancient times to present day. To do so, cancer must be first understood. This was not the case, as cancer still remains to be defeated. This, and other extraordinary scientific goals achieved by molecular cancer research in the last 30 years, seems to suggest that definitive answers and solutions to this severe disease have been finally found. Amazingly, the first human cancer gene was cloned only thirty years ago. File import instruction AbstractĬancer has been in existence longer than human beings, and man has been facing the illness ever since he made his appearance on Earth. Select the file that you have just downloaded and select import option Reference Manager (RIS).
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