Participation of Mycoplasmas in Oncogenesis

Participation of Mycoplasmas in Oncogenesis

(Onkogenese unter Beteiligung von Mykoplasmen)
by F. Gerlach

In "Current Contents - Clinical Practice" und "Referatenzeitschrift der Akademie der Wissenschaften der UdSSR".

Translation from the German into the English language of three paragraphs of pages 5 and 6 of the above publication:

Pathogen free NMRI -mice were depot-inoculated with mycoplasmas from histologically verified malignancies. These mycoplasmas were either cultured in cell free media or taken from cell free filtrates of tumor tissues, malignant exsudates, and in six cases of the umbilical cord and the placenta whose contents of mycoplasmas were thoroughly examined before inoculation.

The result of the transmission of mycoplasmas by depot inoculation was verified by section and histological examination of every single test animal after spontaneous death:

Of the 209 mice which were inoculated with mycoplasmas from human and animal malignomas as well as human fetuses, 190 mice (90,9%) developed malignancies, thereof 80 (42,1%) carcinomas, 97 (51,1%) sarcomas, 3 (1,6%) lymphomas (Hodgkin's disease), 5 (3,1%) leukoses and 1 malignant hemangio-endothelioma. In addition, 6 mice which were inoculated with mycoplasmas of human fetuses developed 1 (0,5%) carinoma and 4 (2,1%) sarcomas.

600 pathogen free control animals of the same breed and age that were not inoculated, remained under observation from 1968 until 1972. Five of these animals (0,83%) developed spontaneous tumors, thereof 2 adeno-carcinomas of the mamma, 1 dermoid, 1 thyroid adenoma and 1 thrombosed angioma of the lung. 92% of the control animals which were not inoculated survived the test collective.

Summary

The conclusions drawn from the presented data are in agreement with previously issued opinions of the author. Mycoplasmas are, synergistically with other factors, essential and obligatory for oncogenesis.

Distinct biotypes of Mycoplasmas from different types of tumors could not be isolated. Mycoplasmas possess the ability to induce various tumors, without regard to their origin, either from tumors or fetuses. It is concluded that Mycplasmas are infectious agents specific for tumor induction in general, but not for a distinct type.

The conviction, presented already in 1948, that no malignant tumor occurs without the presence of Mycoplasmas, but in contrast, that numerous infections by Mycoplasmas do not provoke the manifestation of malignant tumors, is maintained.

Literature:

• F. Gerlach: Wien. Klin. Wschr. 50, 32 (1937).
• F. Gerlach: Wien. Klin. Wschr. 50, 46 (1937).
• F. Gerlach: Wien. Klin.Wschr. 50/47 (1937).
• F. Gerlach: Krebsarzt 1, 3 (1946): 89.
• F. Gerlach: Krebsarzt 1, 11 (1946): 461.
• F. Gerlach: Krebs und obligater Pilzparasitismus. Urban und Schwarzenberg, Wien 1948.
• F. Gerlach: Methoden zur Sichtbarmachung der bei boesartigen Geschwuelsten aufgefundenen Mikromyzeten. Mikroskopische und chemische Beitraege zum Krebsproblem. Sonderband der "Mikroskopie", S.43. G. Fromme & Co., Wien 1949.
• F. Gerlach: Krebsarzt 4, 5 (1949): 171.
• F. Gerlach: Krebsarzt 4, 9 (1949): 271.
• F. Gerlach: Krebsarzt 5 5/6 (1950):97.
• F. Gerlach: Krebsarzt 5, 9/10 (1950): 193.
• F. Gerlach: Krebsarzt 6, 3/4 (1951): 86.
• F. Gerlach: Mikroskopie 7, 1/2 (1952): 17.
• F. Gerlach: Krebsarzt 9, 4 (1954): 141.
• F. Gerlach: Krebsarzt 12, 5 (1957): 254.
• F. Gerlach: Ueber Krebs in Afrika. Festschrift zur Inaugural
• Festsitzung des Rudolf
• Virchow
• Krebsinstitutes der Internat. Med. Ges. fuer Blut
• und Geschwulstkrankheiten, Muenchen 1957.
• F. Gerlach: Medizin heute 7, 8 (19958): 351.
• F. Gerlach: Krebsarzt 16,2 (19961): 54.
• F. Gerlach: Wien. Tieraerztl. Mschr. 57, 6/7 (1970): 232.
• F. Gerlach: Wien. Tieraerztl. Mschr. 58, 1 (1971): 1.
• F. Gerlach: Die Mykoplasmen
• Infektion bei Geschwulstkrankheiten des Menschen und der Tiere. Vortrag vor der "Internat. Med. Ges. fuer Blut
• und Geschwulstkrankh." und der Ges. fuer prae
• und postoperative Tumortherapie", Baden
• Baden, November 1971 (Ref. in: Erfahrungsheilk. 20, 13 (1971): 444.
• F. Gerlach: Wien.Tieraerztl.Mschr. 59 (1972):137.


• Published in
  Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift Supplement No. 26 (4/1975)

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