EVOLUTION, ECOLOGY AND CANCER

Cancer is a biological problem, and some aspects of tumour growth are discussed in the present review from the standpoint of evolutionary-co mparative oncology and ecological oncology. They are: phylogenetic lev el of sensitivity to tumours and tumorigenic influences; regularities of distribution of tumours in different species which belong to the ph ylogenetically distant groups; spontaneous tumour regression in phylog enesis; common and distinctive characteristics of tumour in Eumetazoa; the role of variability of tumour development under environmental con ditions; cancer as an atavistic adaptive reaction to environmental cha nges; application of oncoecological monitoring of environmental carcin ogens (bioindication and biotesting) in comparative oncology.