New insights into how tumors grow—plants and animals alike
This edition presents groundbreaking observations on how nearby normal cells can transform into tumor‑like cells, forming a continuous growth that expands the tumor’s reach from the edge inward. The work details evidence of growth by apposition, where cells near the tumor convert to tumor‑cells rather than the tumor spreading through invasion alone.
Two concise sections frame the study: first, the author describes experiments on tobacco plants using controlled inoculations to observe tumor development; second, the discussion situates these findings in the broader debate about how cancers grow, contrasting appositional growth with other theories. The prose emphasizes clear, observable changes in cell size, staining, and organization, and it notes the reproducibility of results under defined conditions.
What you’ll experience
- A close look at how tumor tissue can arise from surrounding normal cells
- Side-by-side comparisons of normal cortex cells and surrounding tumor cells
- Illustrations and plates that highlight the progression of appositional growth
- Context on historical theories of cancer growth and how these plant studies inform them
Ideal for readers of plant pathology and cancer research, as well as historians of science seeking a precise, illustrated account of early 20th century experiments and interpretations.