Page 50 - Winter2009

All Thumbs Book Reviews

The Trophoblast and the Origins of Cancer: the placenta is a normal tissue, its constituent
One Solution to the cells, the trophoblastic cells, share several com-
Medical Enigma of our Time mon features with malignant cells, Their high
By Nicholas J. Gonzalez, MD and cell proliferation, their lack of cell-contact inhibi-
Linda L. Issacs, MD tion, their migratory and invasive properties as
New Spring Press well as their capacity to escape effectors of the
immune system, in particular during the first
At long last we have a book by Dr. Nicholas trimester of pregnancy, have led to the definition
Gonzalez, outlining his theory of cancer and of the trophoblast as a ‘pseudo-malignant’ type
corresponding treatment. of tissue. . .”
The story begins with biologist Dr. John The current theory of cancer presumes that
Beard (1858-1924), who first proposed the the normal differentiated cells of the various or-
trophoblast theory of cancer in his 1911 book gans somehow reverse themselves into an undif-
The Enzyme Treatment of Cancer. Based on a ferentiated state and then begin growing wildly.
Beard lifetime of research, Beard proposed that cancer But Beard insisted that malignancies develop
reasoned that developed from nests of germ cells scattered only from misplaced trophoblastic cells—or
throughout the body, the remnants of their migra-
what he called “germ” cells, in distinction to the
the best tion from the yolk sac of the newly impregnated “somatic” or differentiated cells of the various
treatment for ovum. According to Beard, normally such germ organs. We now know from studies in mice that
cancer cells remain quiescent, but if stimulated into ac- during the early days of embryo development, a
tivity, they could develop into a rapidly dividing small group of the undifferentiated germ cells
involved malignancy, complete with its own trophoblast. migrate from the epiblast (cells adjacent to the
providing the The trophoblast is a rapidly dividing cellular trophoblast) to a location at the base of the future
substances mass that grows outside the egg sack; it eventu- umbilical cord. These cells then enter the embryo
ally develops into a large part of the placenta. where most of them migrate to the gonadal tis-
that caused Trophoblasts are invasive, eroding and metas- sues, but some of them are left behind, scattered
the tasizing cells that burrow into the endometrium in the various organs and tissues. Beard referred
trophoblast to in order to implant the embryo. This is a highly to these as “vagrant” germ cells and believed
that cancer occurred under circumstances that
complex process involving the secretion of nu-
stop merous hormones, enzymes and other factors caused these cells to behave like the invasive,
proliferating; that allow the trophoblast to literally eat away at proliferative trophoblast.

this happens the dense fibrous tissue to the endometrium; in Modern biology vindicates Beard’s research.
fact, the trophoblastic tissue kidnaps the mother’s Today we call these “germ” cells stem cells, and
when the immune system, “encouraging large numbers of scientists have discovered that stem cells hang
fetal pancreas lymphocytes and other immune cells to migrate out in the various organs, creating new differenti-

comes online into the uterine dedidua in a mock inflammatory ated cells to replace cells lost through cell death
reaction, with the benefits of angiogenesis but or injury. It is now an accepted fact that mature,
and begins without the problem of immune rejection.” differentiated cells do not ever divide; only the
producing Beard incurred the wrath of his profession stem cells divide and then differentiate into the
pancreatic with his unconventional theories; yet, just re- kinds of cells with which they are surrounded.
Beard reasoned that the best treatment for
cently scientists have recognized the similaritiy
enzymes. of trophoblastic cells and cancer cells: “Although cancer involved providing the substances that
48 Wise Traditions WINTER 2009