Gernez explained diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative conditions, through a theory of mitosis and differentiation. He posited that only limited populations of cells within tissue are able to divide, comparing tissue to a colony of bees in which only the queen is able to reproduce.[4]
Gernez enlisted in the military during World War II at the age of 14 under special exemption, and was certified as a military doctor in 1944. At the time, he was the youngest doctor in France at the age of 21.[5]
Gernez established a radiology-radiotherapy practice, which he ran from 1968 to 1976.[6]
In 1970, Gernez contested the belief first established by Santiago Ramón y Cajal that neurogenesis ceases after birth, postulating that neurogenesis can continue after birth.[7] Gernez's theory is not held to be true by the general scientific community, as supporting evidence only suggests that mitosis of neural cells does not continue after birth.[8]
In 1980, Gernez proposed a "biological need to believe," suggesting that religious belief is genetically fixed in the limbic system.[9] Although others have proposed similar theories, there is no empirical evidence suggesting that religion has a biological basis.[10]
Oncologist Olivier Jallut describes Gernez's preventative treatments as dangerous and unacceptable, and his curative methods as lacking in scientific legitimacy.[11] Jallut cites earlier writings by Vigeral on the topic, who similarly described Gernez's work as having no scientific basis, with inadequate evaluation methods, and his practices as ineffective and potentially dangerous.[3]
Les grands médicaments, Henri Pradal et André Gernez, éd. Edition du Seuil, Paris (France), 1975.
Néo-postulats biologiques et pathogéniques, André Gernez, éd. La vie Claire, Mandres-les-roses (France), 1975, first published October 1968, 122 pages.
Loi et règles de la cancérisation, André Gernez, éd. Verschave, Roubaix (France), 1970, 168 pages.
Le cancer, dynamique et éradication, André Gernez, December 1969, 162 pages.
La carcinogénèse, mécanisme et prévention (essai sur la dynamique des populations cellulaires), André Gernez, March 1969, 182 pages.
^ ab↑ P. Vigeral, « La scandaleuse “campagne de prévention de la dégénérescence cancéreuse et artérielle” », Prescrire 8, p. 188-192, 1988, cité par Olivier Jallut dans Médecines parallèles et cancers.
^« Carcinogenic mechanisms: Anticancer drugs that target tumor metabolism », Maurice Israël, Laurent Schwartz (trad. Daniel Rodet), Biomedical Research (ISSN0970-938X), nº volume 22 issue 2, April–June 2011, p. 143
^P. Vigeral, « La scandaleuse “campagne de prévention de la dégénérescence cancéreuse et artérielle” », Prescrire 8, p. 188-192, 1988, cité par Olivier Jallut dans Médecines parallèles et cancers.
^Gérard Minart, "Full house at the Sorbonne for three doctors from Roubaix who have dealt with the biology of the religious phenomenon", La Voix du Nord , February 27, 1980
