Deletion of essential functions and tumorigenesis

The vitamins and their coenzyme role in a variety of metabolic reactions provided an initial impetus upon which modern biochemistry built its foundations. In a similar fashion we believe that investigations into the mode of action of essential nutrients will help pave the way for major advances in our understanding of how tumor cells establish their self-sufficiency. We have recently found that certain tumor cells are deficient in the essential nutrient vitamin A. We will argue that tumor cells arise from carcinogen-initiated cells that have assumed the phenotype of essential-function deficiency.