Translational Medicine
Open Access

Abstract

Can Translational Medicine Exploit the Reported "Metastatic Inefficiency" of Lung Cancer Spreading to the Liver?

Wilson Onuigbo

In the early 1950s, 2 scientists considered the making of progress in cancer research. One of them was Arnott, a Harveian Orator, who promoted the view that, if the metastatic pattern appears to be anomalous, it is a pointer to the direction to take in remedial researching. Another giant was Professor Cameron, who delivered a Memorial Lecture on the liver which is now enmeshed in the anomaly viewed as “metastatic inefficiency.” As he posited, hypotheses should be formulated to explain such matters even if the outcome seems hopeless. As regards the liver itself, I had illustrated the anomalous patterns and offered an explanation based on the spatial distribution of its discrete secondary deposits. This time, the emphasis is on careful case reports because they graphically confirm the formulated theoretical concepts. As a follow-up, the effective role of the newly named “Erythrocyte Associated Necrosis Factor” (EANF) has been entertained. In all probability, if adequate searchlight is beamed on EANF through the well funded field of translational medicine, breakthroughs ought to arise as regards target therapy. Moreover, this could conduce to cancer cure sooner than later.