Willis Tumor Field Theory

Willis John (1929-2018) - British pathologist and professor of pathology at the University of Exeter, known for his research in the field of oncological pathology. In 1963, he published his tumor field theory, which has become one of the most important theories in oncology.

Willis defined the tumor margin as the area around the tumor that contains a large number of altered cells. He believed that the tumor field was the source of tumor growth and that to treat it it was necessary to remove this area.

Willis's tumor field theory is based on the idea that a tumor is made up of altered cells that produce large numbers of new cells and therefore grow faster than healthy cells. These altered cells spread throughout the body and form a new tumor, which can be removed by surgery.

However, tumor field theory also has its limitations. For example, it does not take into account the possibility that some altered cells may continue to grow and spread even after the tumor field is removed. In addition, not all tumors have a tumor field, and not all altered cells are a source of growth for the tumor.

Despite these limitations, tumor field theory is still an important part of cancer diagnosis and treatment. It helps doctors locate the tumor and assess its size and extent, and helps determine the most effective treatment.

Willis Tumor Field Theory (W. Willis) is a concept developed by American pathologist William Willis, who in the 1950s proposed a theory explaining the mechanism of tumor formation and growth. According to this theory, a tumor develops due to an imbalance between cell death and proliferation.

Willis suggested that in the body there is a so-called tumor field - an area in which cells lose the ability to apoptosis (death). This causes cells to multiply, forming a tumor. However, the tumor field is not static, but is constantly changing under the influence of various factors, such as genetic mutations, changes in the tumor microenvironment, exposure to environmental factors, etc.

One of the key factors influencing tumor development is genetic predisposition. Some genes may increase the likelihood of developing a tumor, while other genes may reduce the risk of developing one. In addition, environmental factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, poor diet, etc. can influence the development of a tumor.

Thus, Willis' tumor field theory explains the mechanism of tumor formation, but does not answer the question of why some cells become malignant. Currently, there are various theories explaining the mechanism of tumor development, such as the oncogene theory, the mutation hypothesis theory and many others.