Time for a New Paradigm in Oncology? Viewpoint of the Radiobiologist

Abstract

The current immunooncology artificially ignores the connection with lymphopoiesis, though is only its derivative. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) provide physiological regeneration of biomass of the host, fetus, and malignant tumors, as well, as the cells' reparation after sub-lethally injuring in any tissues and their renewal. HSC, especially of lymphoid lineage, are the most vulnerable of those, which are responsible for viability of organism. Natural and artificial deficits of HSC determine aging, multi-organs syndromes and death of the host, because their current proliferative resource (CPR) is individually limited at birth, and is spending irreversibly during wounds' healing, pregnancy, tumor growth, and on. CPR, being an integral value of the number of stem cells along the length of their telomeres, is a "shagreen skin", for which the tumor competes with normal tissues as a quasi-embryonic favorite and winner, especially in the final period of a shortening the life. The primary approach to cancer treatment must prioritize the preservation of CPR remnants, rather than their destruction, in order to temporarily halt the malignant process. The re-targeting of HSC from tumors in favor of normal tissues is the immediate objective of competitive therapy, which allows for preserving the rest of the CPR host's resources, especially in patients with advanced cancer. However, the contradictory and insignificant practically, the dogma of antitumor cellular immunity continues to dominate and hinder progress in oncology.