The activities of the Registry increased in all areas during 1974 due largely 
to an increased concern over the effects of environmental pollution, coupled 
with an increased interest in the cause and significance of neoplasia in in¬ 
vertebrate and cold-blooded vertebrate animals. 
As pointed out in the previous activities report, copies of which are still 
available, there are numerous proven and hypothesized benefits from studying 
neoplasms in lower animals including the discovery of: new carcinogens, in¬ 
dicators of carcinogens in the environment, vectors of cancer viruses, reser¬ 
voirs of chemical carcinogens, multipliers of carcinogens in the food chain, 
models for the study of mechanisms of neoplastic transformation, sources of 
anti-cancer compounds, and models for screening the carcinogenicity and muta¬ 
genicity of new chemicals (less than half of the new chemicals which go into 
major production each year are tested for carcinogenicity due largely to the 
cost and other logistics of using the mammalian test systems),, 
SPECIMEN COLLECTION 
The specimen collection is the most important component of the Registry's 
mission and we invite contributions of any material showing neoplasms or re¬ 
lated diseases in cold-blooded vertebrates and invertebrates. Almost all of 
the cases received add to the information on geographic and phylogenetic dis¬ 
tribution of these diseases and their manifestation within the organism. In 
addition, many of the cases have special significance as they relate to one 
of the benefits mentioned in the previous section. Unfortunately a report 
such as this does not portray the total significance of each case, but in con¬ 
junction with the literature it will give one a pretty good idea of where we 
stand. 
In 1974 the specimen collection increased by 191 accessions, which represented 
an eight percent acceleration in rate over the previous reporting period. The 
complete list of specimens with the diagnosis, name of contributor, and perti¬ 
nent reference when applicable, is included in this report. The addresses of 
contributors are given at the end. 
Table I gives a breakdown of the major phylogenetic groups with the ratio of 
neoplastic to non-neoplastic lesions. As in previous years the bulk of the 
specimens were fish and amphibians with mollusks leading the invertebrates. 
Approximately two-thirds of the diagnosed material was neoplastic, but mollusca 
and arthropoda continue to be the only invertebrate phyla from which verifiable 
neoplasms are known. 
REFERENCE LIBRARY 
Approximately 300 papers were added to the comprehensive library on neoplasms 
in lower animals bringing the total number to over 2,800, Except for very re¬ 
cent acquisitions and some older articles that need to be translated, all pa¬ 
pers have been abstracted by selected key words and computerized. At the con¬ 
clusion of a thorough editing, now in progress, the entire file will be made 
available as a publication. 
