Cancer patients may view their tumors as parasites taking over their bodies, but this is more than a metaphor for German born Peter Duesberg, a molecular and cell biology professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Duesberg, who is also known for his controversial AIDs theory , (he claims that AIDS is caused by the use of recreational drugs and AZT), recently published a paper in the in the July 1st issue of the journal Cell Cycle claiming that cancerous tumors are parasitic organisms.

According to Duesberg, each type of cancer is a new species that, like most parasites, depends on its host for food, but otherwise operates independently and often to the detriment of its host.

For a wonderful explanation of Duesberg’s findings see Are cancers newly evolved species?

Below is a talk given by Dr. Duesberg at a meeting in Turkey several years ago where he explains his cancer theory. Although the video is difficult to understand at the beginning, the sound clears up after a few seconds.

PFS09 Peter Duesberg, “Controversies in Cancer Research” from Sean Gabb on Vimeo.