Kapronczay Károly szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 230-233. (Budapest, 2015)
KÖZLEMÉNYEK - Elek Gábor—Müller Miklós: Bauer Ervin és a rákkutatás
ERVIN BAUERAND CANCER RESEARCH GÁBOR ELEK — MIKLÓS MÜLLER Introduction ‘Based on my experiments, facts and considerations, I regard the problem of cancer solved. The surface tension of the serum provides us a measurable parameter, the value of which determines the origin and growth potential of cancer’ (Bauer 1923a 374). This is an astonishing statement since the ‘problem’ of cancer is not yet solved even today. What did Bauer mean by these words that seem empty boasting to us. According to Russian science historians, Ervin (Erwin) Bauer (Opimii Chmohobhh Eayep) is one of the founders of theoretical biology (Tokuh 1963, Tokin 1965, Ulnojib 2001). This is not recognised in Western literature, because Bauer’s main monograph, Theoretical Biology (TeopeTHuecKaa EnojiorHH, Eayip 1935) was published only in Russian and remained unknown outside the USSR. Even there it became soon prohibited and removed from circulation because Bauer became a nonperson as victim of Stalinism in 1937 (see Müller 2005). In this article we wish to present Bauer’s theory of cancer in a historical perspective and to show him a genuine pioneer of theoretical biology. Cell division at the beginning of 20th century: theories and experiments Surface tension was regarded the major factor determining the shape and size of cells at that time. Osmotic pressure acts from the inside. It is counteracted by surface tension that forces the plasma droplet to assume minimal size, take up a spherical shape. Growth was assumed to be limited by the surface area that already interferes with uptake of nutrients and elimination of waste products (Hartman 1953 445). The protoplasmic mass, determining the metabolic rate, increases as the cube of cell radius, while the surface, where exchange of substances with the environment occurs, only as its square — the volume of a sphere is (4/3) Un, but its surface is 4 r27i. This disturbs the equilibrium of the balancing forces and cell division ensues (Przibram 1922 3, 12, 17-20, 25-26). The sum of the surface areas of the two spherical daughter cells is, however, larger than that of a spherical mother cell by 1.12n r2. This is the surface excess gained in cell division (Rashevskyl960 227). Rashevsky created a mathematical model of cell with a centrally placed single metabolic centre and estimated the maximum possible cell radius (see Bertalanffy 1942 42-45; Rashevsky 1960 149-157). The surface excess means at the same time surface tension surplus (that is surface energy surplus) as well, compared to the maternal cell. Cellular division was studied on the largest animal cells, fertilized eggs, as tissue culture had not been an established method yet. Division could be elicited by the most diverse means: by mechanical means (parthenogenesis), by manipulation of the salt concentration of the surrounding water (marine invertebrates, see Loeb 1906 98-105, 234-244), by radiation ('Gurwitsch, see Bertalanffy 1932 233-236), by necrohormones (substances from damaged
