THE CANCER CELL AND CONNECTIVE-TISSUE - A HISTORICAL REVIEW

Since the introduction of microscopic examination of tumours, many res earchers have dealt with the relationship between cancer cells and con nective tissue. Rudolf Virchow's opinion that carcinomas derive from c onnective tissue was soon disproved by the studies of Cornil, Thiersch , and Waldeyer, but no clue was provided to the reason for the invasio n of the epithelium. Julius Cohnheim and particularly Hugo Ribbert wer e of the opinion that invasion of the epithelium was only possible in the case of a primarily altered connective tissue. Ultimately the stro ma determines malignant growth. From 1902, Max Borst finally formulate d the views on tumour-stroma-relationship that are still valid today a nd postulated interrelations which can only be proved and confirmed by modern molecular biological methods.