Frances V. De George

Cancer and contagious disease in twins. Interrelation of host defense mechanisms

A co‐twin control method was utilized in a study of twin pairs with benign and malignant neoplastic disease and without neoplastic disease in relation to their contagious disease experience. These data were analyzed in respect to intrapair discordances for neoplastic disease and contagious disease. Relative birth weight and birth order also were analyzed in these twin pairs. In pairs discordant for cancer and contagious disease the member with malignant disease was most frequently the member who indicated having had clinical symptoms of a contagious disease not shared by his co‐twin. Also, the twin member with malignant disease was usually of heavier birth weight, and more frequently the first born member of the pair. These data suggest that there is an interrelationship between host defense mechanisms against cancer and viral infection and that prenatal and perinatal factors play a role in cancer resistance.