Cancer as a Systemic Signal Generator

Cancer is traditionally described as uncontrolled cellular proliferation resulting from accumulated genetic mutations. However, growing evidence indicates that tumors exert systemic physiological effects long before they reach clinically detectable size. Tumor cells release cytokines, growth factors, metabolites, pro-coagulant mediators, and extracellular vesicles capable of altering immune regulation, metabolism, coagulation, and tissue homeostasis across the organism.In this conceptual framework, cancer is interpreted not only as a growing mass of abnormal cells but also as a generator of systemic biological signals capable of reshaping organismal physiology. We propose that the temporal dynamics of these signals may contain early warning indicators of oncogenic transitions. Furthermore, distinct tumor types may generate partially distinct systemic signal fingerprints.This perspective suggests that future research should focus not only on tumor burden but also on thedynamics of signal propagation within organismal regulatory networks.