Pediatric Surgery

CancerCancer is second only to trauma as the leading cause of death in childhood. It is with considerable hope that pediatricians and surgeons view certain developments that may have promise in pediatric neoplasia. For example, Folkman255 has shown that a diffusable factor that is mitogenic for capillary endothelium can be isolated from animal and human tumor cells. To grow larger than 2 to 3 mm, a tumor requires neovascularization of its environment. The hope is that tumor growth can be suppressed by discovery of an appropriate antiangiogenesis agent. Also of interest is the demonstration in fetal and adult tissues . . .