The genetics of leukaemia in man

Abstract

Despite considerable research on the problem of leukaemia, its etiology is still obscure. Endocrine dysfunction, effect of X-ray, trauma and etiological features suggestive of malignant tumours have been advanced as possible causes. The very nature of the disease as well as data on leukaemia in fowls, favour the theory of an infectious origin. Poverty, physical and mental strain, lymphatic constitution, syphilis, malaria and other infectious diseases have been suggested, often on inadequate grounds, as predisposing factors in leukaemia. Interesting results were obtained by MacDowell and Richter on susceptibility of mice to leukaemia.