Hypothesis: "Immunologic" Oncogenesis

The evidence that immunologic mechanisms may predispose to malignancy is reviewed, and an attempt is made to relate neoplasia possibly induced by immunologic or other reactions involving the recognition of self and not-self to known oncogenic mechanisms. It is suggested that "immunologic" oncogenesis as well as malignant transformation induced by known oncogenic agents may be mediated at least in part by chromosomal aberrations. These could act directly to promote neoplasia, or the cell death and proliferation consequent to them could promote other mutational events. Alternatively, the chromosomal changes themselves may not be sufficient for oncogenesis, but they may potentiate malignant transformation by other agents such as viruses.