On models of carcinogenesis and middle range theories. Reflections on Vineis

In his "A Brief History of Models of Carcinogenesis", Paolo Vineis deals with models of carcinogenesis that have been elaborated from the Fifties to date. The paper presents theree models that have been the leading paradigms in cancer research, focusing especially on the third one, advanced more recently, which puts an emphasis on non-genotoxic effects and fitness of cells, and might act - he claims - as a unifying theory of various biological phenomena. Starting from some of Vineis' considerations on medical theories and cauastion - presented both here and elsewhere - this contribution addresses some general epistemological issues regarding so-labelled "middle range theories" and the construction of mechanistic models, which are being extensively used in contemporary reseach on carcinogenesis.