Allotransplantation and Its Association with Rising Incidence of Cancers

Abstract

In some cases of allotransplantation, simultaneous development of malignant tumors of different histogenesis may be observed. We propose to consider malignant tumor formation during allotransplantations in terms of karyogamic theory of carcinogenesis. Experience in transplantology tentatively testify that even in cases of maximal antigen compatibility of donors and recipients, immune conflict is unavoidable. As we believe, in immunological conflict between recipient and donor cells, the process of cells' destruction in some cases may be accompanied by damages of plasma membranes and somatic hybridization between immunocompetent cells of the recipient and any cell of transplanted donor's tissue, which may lead to the emergence of a cancer cell. Antibodies and cytotoxic cells can induce damages (perforations) of different degree on somatic cells plasma membranes, which can represent firstly the precancerous and later the true cancerous cells formation.