Fractal Entropy: The Return of Unified Theory of Cancer

The concept of a unified theory for cancer is not novel, in fact it was first proposed by Spandidos in 1986[1] where it was postulated that cancer development was an orchestrated series of genetic and epigenetic events which were significantly related to both genetic and environmental factors. In a recent review by Garland[2] another unified theory has emerged and a new model of cancer development has been proposed. In this case, it has been defined as retuning the energy required by a cell to maintain homeostasis, to a state of maximum energy entropy (dissipation) arising from increased cellular dynamics. Garland has postulated that this process can be driven by specific mutations, or other molecular changes, that will re-direct energy flow within a cell to one favouring neoplastic transformation.