Desmoplasia

DESMOPLASIA (from Greek desmos- bond and plasso- to form), the property of epithelial tissues to reproduce elements of connective tissue (Kromayer, Mil'man). For embryonic development, this property is recognized for epithelium by most embryologists, excluding W. His and his supporters. In mature organisms, the transformation of epithelium into connective tissue is admitted by many researchers only under special pathological conditions (Abrikosov). Thus, Kromayer sees in desmoplasia the essence of the cancer process. Krompecher and Mil'man adhere to this opinion. M. Borst, studying changes in epithelium occurring after prolonged rubbing of coal tar into the skin (so-called tar cancers), came to the conclusion that in this case there is a transformation of epithelium into connective tissue and vessels. This prompted him to express the opinion on the desirability of posing the question of desmoplasia on a larger scale. One cannot fail to notice that the problem of desmoplasia, posed sufficiently broadly and eliminating the view on the isolation in life of two cell types (epithelial and non-epithelial), must lead to a revision of the most important views in biology. Based on the position of Johannes Muller that pathological phenomena have as their prototype normal physiological processes, one would have to admit the possibility of desmoplasia also in the life of mature organisms.