Tumorigenesis as a trauma response: the fragmentation of morphogenetic memory drives neoplastic dissociation

Jordan Strasser

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arXiv · 2508.20363

Tumorigenesis as a trauma response: the fragmentation of morphogenetic memory drives neoplastic dissociation

Jordan Strasser

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Abstract

The mitigation of stress is a key challenge for all biological systems. Conditions of unresolvable stress have been associated with a diverse array of pathologies, from cancer to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here, I unify insights from evolutionary and developmental biology with trauma psychology to present a novel framework for tumorigenesis which synthesizes stress-perception, tissue dysfunction, and the hallmarks of neoplastic growth. This view carries therapeutic implications, suggesting a reintegrative approach that seeks to return cancer cells to the homeostatic control of the surrounding tissue.

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Jordan Strasser. 2025-08-28. Tumorigenesis as a trauma response: the fragmentation of morphogenetic memory drives neoplastic dissociation. https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.20363

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