Prostaglandin and cancer.

The occurrence, properties, and effects of the prostaglandins (PGs) are briefly reviewed. Among their functions are: promotion of cellular differentiation, inhibition of lipolysis, and stimulation of cell-mediated reactivity. A PG deficiency would manifest itself in a reversal of these processes, i. e. in promotion of cellular dedifferentiation, stimulation of lipolysis, and inhibition of cell mediated immunity. All these phenomena are characteristic of malignant disease. A hypothesis is proposed suggesting that the tumour secretes a PG antagonist and that the PG deficiency so induced is the cause of local and systemic manifestations of cancer.