Gist of D r. K atsusaburo Y amagiwa's papers entitled “Experimental study on the pathogenesis of epithelial tumors” ( I to VI reports)

The concept of cancer and inflammation has a long history. V irchow's irritation theory based on human cancer engendered the essential role of inflammation in carcinogenesis. D rs. Y amagiwa and I chikawa first published a comprehensive paper entitled “ E xperimental study on the pathogenesis of epithelial tumors” ( I report) in 1915 in G erman, and went on to publish five more reports (1915–1924) under the same title. They succeeded in demonstrating that inflammation is an important carcinogenic factor, and the mechanisms are now being investigated by numerous scientists all over the world. In order to introduce Y amagiwa's work to modern cancer researchers, the essentials of their six reports have been translated into E nglish as a short review. S cientists' comments on Y amagiwa's contribution are attached by way of introduction.