The metabolism of normal and tumour tissue

Abstract

THE study of the metabolism of surviving tissue in the form of slices, that is, in the form in which least damage has occurred, is being pursued by many workers as a method of elucidating the metabolism of the living body cells. This method, whilst having the great advantage of using intact cells, is limited in comparison with the analytical method in which tissue enzymes, carriers etc. are extracted and studied; nevertheless, much has been, and is being, leamt by making changes in the medium in which the slices are suspended, particularly by the addition of substances foreign to the body. A better understanding of the nature of the effects produced, and a correlation of the action of different substances, is however needed before theories of cell metabolism, based on these actions, can usefully be evolved.