Pineal
Gland and Cancer: An Old Concept with Potential for the Future by Christian Bartsch and Hella Bartsch
Historical
Remarks
During the development of endocrinology in this century it became
obvious that the hormonal system is structured hierarchically
and that the hypothalamo-hypophyseal unit controls the peripheral
glands. Predominantly central sfimulatory signals govern e.g.
gonadal function, however, it was not clear how inhibitory control
may be exerted. Early endocrinologists supposed that the pineal
gland as a prominent yet small unpaired organ located approximately
in the geometric center of the brain may produce hormones involved
in the inhibitory control of the endocrine system. Extracts
produced by the pineal gland and administered to experimental
animals gave evidence for the presence of inhibitory principles
not only affecting gonadal function but also growth in general
(Engel and Bergmann 1952). Due to the growth-inhibitory properties
of these aqueous extracts it was assumed that the pineal gland
may also be involved in the control of neoplastic growth (Engel
1935). W. Bergmann and P. Engel (1950) administered bovine pineal
extracts to mice with benzopyrene-induced skin tumors and observed
a clear inhibition. Subsequent experiments confirmed these initial
findings (Engel and Fischi 1954). At the time when Engel (1935)
was performing his first experiments similar extracts were used
in veterinary medicine due to their anti-gonadal properties
to treat hypersexualism and states of irritability in animals
(Ott 1938). The existence of pineal gland substances capable
of controlling gonadal function led to the assumption that pineal
extracts could be helpful in treating tumors of the reproductive
tract. R. Hofstätter (1959) who was also working in Vienna
like Engel and Bergmann in the 1930s administered bovine pineal
extracts to more than 150 women suffering from uterine, mammary
or ovarian cancer. He reported favourable results pertaining
not only to inhibition of tumor growth but also to an improvement
of their quality of life due a general feeling of well-being
and alleviation of pain. At this time also other clinicians
attempted a therapeutic use of pineal substances in cancer patients:
Sander Schmid (1952) gave subcutaneous implants of fresh pig
pineal glands and observed control of the malignant process
and Altieri and Sorrentino (1956) successfully treated prostate
cancer patients with pineal extracts. Kitay and Altschule (1954),
in their book on the pineal gland, concluded that pineal preparations
generally seem to possess inhibitory actions on spontaneous
and transplantable neoplasias. In those times pineal extracts
were commercially available, e.g. Epiglandol (Hoffmann-La Roche)
or Epiphysan (Richter, Budapest), and were used not only in
oncology but for a number of other diseases.
