Hormonal imbalances in tumorigenesis.

We are now probably all more aware of "hormonal imbalances" than ever before. Investigators of problems in experimental endocrinology have been aware of hormonal imbalances or balances for many years. Now the terms are used more frequently because they are being considered in connection with the production and treatment of tumors and cancer. An environment in which both the applied and fundamental aspects of a problem are being investigated in the clinic and in the laboratory simultaneously accelerates the expansion of that particular field of investigation. It is of interest that two groups of investigators here in Chicago have contributed significantly to the understanding of hormonal interreactions. Moore and Price (27) first expanded the theory of hormonal interreactions involving the reproductive organs. Huggins and his associates (20, 21) were the first to modify hormonal balances to affect the treatment of prostatic cancer. There are undoubtedly differences of interpretation of hormonal imbalances but that is natural, it is so hard to define a "normal" balance of hormones, particularly in connection with some systems of hormones. In fact, the hormonal balances change from day to day, year to year, or even moment to moment in some instances. Such changes are essential as the body develops, is adapted to different stresses and as it ages. The flexible state of many hormonal activities is worthy of contemplation, because, when appreciated, it implies that hormones are regulators or incitors of functions; that they do not initiate or need not initiate any new function or functions to which organized aggregates of living cells are not already subject. One cannot expect a hormone to do something that the