Nutrition in Relation to Cancer.

One of the many interesting problems concerning cancer is that of cell growth and the hereditary and nutritional factors relating to such growth. Eleven papers, each representing some current study in these fields of oncology, comprise this volume. The results obtained are conservatively evaluated. Albert Tannenbaum observed that simple underfeeding inhibited the formation of tumors in mice. This was because of caloric restriction rather than the absence of some specific food component. Furthermore, in a study of cutaneous cancer induced by 3:4 benzpyrene, tumors developed in only 11 mice of 50 on a restricted diet. Among 50 mice fed ad libitum 32 showed tumors. Data are presented demonstrating that 8 different types of mouse tumors and leukemia are inhibited by caloric restriction. Indirect "restriction" in caloric intake accomplished by feeding sodium fluoride with resulting anorexia and keeping mice in the cold also diminished the frequency of cancer. Investigations by J.