title: SMT and TOFT Integrable After All: A Reply to Bizzarri and Cucina.
abstract: In a previous paper recently published in this journal, we argue that the two main theories of carcinogenesis (SMT and TOFT) should be considered as compatible, at the metaphysical, epistemological and biological levels. In a reply to our contribution, Bizzarri and Cucina claim we are wrong since SMT and TOFT are opposite and incompatible paradigms. Here, we show that their arguments are not satisfactory. Indeed, the authors go through the same mistakes that we already addressed. In particular, they confuse reductionism, as an ontological frame, and genetic determinism, as a causal pathway. Beside, they make an inadequate use of the Kuhnian notion of paradigm shift. Finally, we confirm our previous conclusion: there is no strong argument to totally abandon the somatic mutation theory. It describes a partial causal pathway, compatible with the one proposed by TOFT.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire PPL, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Bat. ARSH CS 40700, 38058, Grenoble, France. baptiste.bedessemp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Baptiste
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9603-6686
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bedessem
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire PPL, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Bat. ARSH CS 40700, 38058, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Stphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruphy
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Cancer; Reductionism; TOFT