Koten J W, Beukers H, Den Otter W
Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Anticancer Res. 1999 Nov-Dec;19(6A):4613-26.
Contrary to conventional wisdom progress in cancer research has not followed a linear course, but rather a torturous capricious path, often guided by the prevailing concepts of disease (nosology). Various theories appear, disappear and reappear all the time. Periods with rapid progression alternate with periods of stagnation. Really new ideas emerge rarely in oncology. Most of the so-called new ideas are modifications of older concepts i.e. old wine in new skins. Moreover existing oncological theories brought under the umbrella of a new nosological paradigm may change drastically and often get a totally new meaning. As a consequence older theories may linger on over centuries but may be modified to such an extent that the original concepts are barely recognisable. Progress in oncology is characterised by periods of rapid progress alternating with periods of apparent stagnation which with hindsight were nevertheless periods in which new concepts were in statu nascendi. The history of oncology provides still a source of inspiration, since older ideas may be worth reconsidering.
与传统观念相反，癌症研究的进展并非呈直线式，而是一条曲折多变的道路，常常受到疾病流行概念（疾病分类学）的引导。各种理论不断出现、消失又重新出现。快速发展期与停滞期交替出现。肿瘤学中真正新颖的观点很少出现。大多数所谓的新观点不过是旧概念的修改，即新瓶装旧酒。此外，现有的肿瘤学理论在新的疾病分类范式下可能会发生巨大变化，并且常常获得全新的意义。因此，旧理论可能会延续几个世纪，但可能会被修改到几乎认不出原来概念的程度。肿瘤学的进展特点是快速进展期与明显停滞期交替出现，事后看来，停滞期其实也是新概念正在形成的时期。肿瘤学的历史仍然是灵感的源泉，因为旧观点可能值得重新审视。
