ABSTRACT
In methylcholanthrene-induced carcinogenesis of mouse skin, collagen content changed in an unexpected way. The chemical and morphological data obtained aroused doubts with regard to the simple idea of connective tissue degradation as the only way the stroma was involved in the malignant process. In a theoretical study the author discussed whether stromal processes could possibly play a part in carcinogenesis in the adjacent epithelium. The gradually emerging concept of stromal-epithelial interactions as contributory factors in epithelial malignancy has led the author to formulate a hypothesis on the mechanism of asbestos-induced lung cancer. A pertinent proposition was formulated: during carcinogenesis, stromal influences, normally an element of a physiological stromal-epithelial interrelationship, are deranged in such a way that they constitute a factor in the multistep process of tumor promotion.
