Cancer as a global health crisis with deep evolutionary roots
The global burden of cancer incidence, deaths and economic costs is steadily increasing since several decades. Despite a massive allocation of research funds since the 1970s, no significant (in terms of years) improvements of survival times have been achieved for most cancer types. In this article,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Global Transitions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S258979182400001X |
| _version_ | 1797356065981988864 |
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| author | Rainer Johannes Klement |
| author_facet | Rainer Johannes Klement |
| author_sort | Rainer Johannes Klement |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The global burden of cancer incidence, deaths and economic costs is steadily increasing since several decades. Despite a massive allocation of research funds since the 1970s, no significant (in terms of years) improvements of survival times have been achieved for most cancer types. In this article, I argue that the failure to effectively prevent and treat cancer is partly owing to the gene-centric paradigm of the somatic mutation theory of carcinogenesis. I outline and provide evidence for a new transdisciplinary evolutionary theory of carcinogenesis according to which cancer is a phylogenetic reversal towards unicellular lifeforms triggered by the breakdown of essential cooperative interactions on important levels of human organization. These levels include the genetic, cellular, tissue and psychosocial-spiritual level of human existence. The new theory considers the emergence of eukaryotes and metazoans and – of particular importance – human evolution and in this way explains why cooperation on these different levels is so essential to maintain holistic health. It is argued that the interaction between human’s slow natural evolution and the fast cultural evolution, especially during the current Anthropocene epoch, plays an important role in making individuals susceptible towards carcinogenesis. The implications of this insight and the theory of cancer as a phylogenetic reversal are discussed with respect to prevention and treatment, and concrete practical examples are provided. It is concluded that individuals could substantially reduce their risk of cancer by respecting certain biopsychosocial-spiritual lifestyle factors which are justified by human evolution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:21:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b50fc9998e24cb0b1b54b188f3e9071 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2589-7918 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:21:11Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Transitions |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b50fc9998e24cb0b1b54b188f3e90712024-01-14T05:39:45ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Global Transitions2589-79182024-01-0164565Cancer as a global health crisis with deep evolutionary rootsRainer Johannes Klement0Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Leopoldina Hospital Schweinfurt, 97422, Schweinfurt, GermanyThe global burden of cancer incidence, deaths and economic costs is steadily increasing since several decades. Despite a massive allocation of research funds since the 1970s, no significant (in terms of years) improvements of survival times have been achieved for most cancer types. In this article, I argue that the failure to effectively prevent and treat cancer is partly owing to the gene-centric paradigm of the somatic mutation theory of carcinogenesis. I outline and provide evidence for a new transdisciplinary evolutionary theory of carcinogenesis according to which cancer is a phylogenetic reversal towards unicellular lifeforms triggered by the breakdown of essential cooperative interactions on important levels of human organization. These levels include the genetic, cellular, tissue and psychosocial-spiritual level of human existence. The new theory considers the emergence of eukaryotes and metazoans and – of particular importance – human evolution and in this way explains why cooperation on these different levels is so essential to maintain holistic health. It is argued that the interaction between human’s slow natural evolution and the fast cultural evolution, especially during the current Anthropocene epoch, plays an important role in making individuals susceptible towards carcinogenesis. The implications of this insight and the theory of cancer as a phylogenetic reversal are discussed with respect to prevention and treatment, and concrete practical examples are provided. It is concluded that individuals could substantially reduce their risk of cancer by respecting certain biopsychosocial-spiritual lifestyle factors which are justified by human evolution.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S258979182400001XAtavistic modelHuman evolutionMetabolic theory of cancerMitochondriaKetogenic dietPaleolithic diet |
| spellingShingle | Rainer Johannes Klement Cancer as a global health crisis with deep evolutionary roots Global Transitions Atavistic model Human evolution Metabolic theory of cancer Mitochondria Ketogenic diet Paleolithic diet |
| title | Cancer as a global health crisis with deep evolutionary roots |
| title_full | Cancer as a global health crisis with deep evolutionary roots |
| title_fullStr | Cancer as a global health crisis with deep evolutionary roots |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cancer as a global health crisis with deep evolutionary roots |
| title_short | Cancer as a global health crisis with deep evolutionary roots |
| title_sort | cancer as a global health crisis with deep evolutionary roots |
| topic | Atavistic model Human evolution Metabolic theory of cancer Mitochondria Ketogenic diet Paleolithic diet |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S258979182400001X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rainerjohannesklement cancerasaglobalhealthcrisiswithdeepevolutionaryroots |