Genetic mutations during cell reproduction cause cancer.
That is the somatic mutation theory of cancer. It has not been proven, it’s very popular. There are other theories such as the metabolic mitochondrial theory.
If the prevailing theory has many paradoxes (i.e. the oncogenic paradox) , then the model needs to be updated. So no, we don’t know what causes cancer, we know what is associated with cancer.
Gene mutations absolutely have a role to play, it’s reasonable, but is it causal or part of the chain toward cancer? I think it’s necessary, but not sufficient. Hence not causal, hence it doesn’t “cause” cancer by itself.
That is the somatic mutation theory of cancer. It has not been proven, it’s very popular. There are other theories such as the metabolic mitochondrial theory.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12050662 - Paradoxical Behavior of Oncogenes Undermines the Somatic Mutation Theory
If the prevailing theory has many paradoxes (i.e. the oncogenic paradox) , then the model needs to be updated. So no, we don’t know what causes cancer, we know what is associated with cancer.
Gene mutations absolutely have a role to play, it’s reasonable, but is it causal or part of the chain toward cancer? I think it’s necessary, but not sufficient. Hence not causal, hence it doesn’t “cause” cancer by itself.