(image from Nudelman, op.cit, fair use claimed)

“The Hallmarks of Cancer: the next generation”  is thought to be a seminal review of the how and perhaps the why of cancer formation, written by Hanahan and Weinberg, with updates.  It works to simplify the vast complexity and literature of carcinogenesis into ten basic biological /pathological principles.

After all, as I’ve pointed out in an Op-Ed, both cancer and Alzheimer Disease (AD) are progressive, and both can be fatal.

Earlier this year, “The Biological Hallmarks of Cancer in Alzheimer’s Disease” by Nudelman, McDonald, Lahiri and Saykin, was epublished.  Using the Hanahan and Weinberg work as a template, the authors go point by point over carcinogenesis ideas, to see what might be learned for Alzheimer’s disease; it’s an exercise in comparing and contrasting concepts.

While this might be considered an intellectual issue, one could easily argue that the theoretical concepts of carcinogenesis has led to the extensive, varied and successful approaches to cancer therapy.  FDA approved over 20 new cancer indications last year, and ZERO Alzheimer agents.

Not that anyone would want acknowledgment from a gadfly, but if there were an appropriate forum I’d nominate the work for Paper of The Year!  It’s worth taking a look (click the link).