To Fight Cancer, Know The Enemy

James D. Watson, co-discoverer of DNA's double helix, said the words I've been waiting years to hear.

In my August 3rd post, I explained why it is unfair to compare the goal of landing on the Moon with that of curing cancer: "...when Nixon declared a war on cancer, scientists didn't have the basic knowledge needed. They were learning -- and are still learning -- how cancer develops and how to fix the problem."

Well, fellow Healthy Survivors, break out the champagne! Two days later, the New York Times published an editorial by Dr. Watson that opens, "The National Cancer Institute, which has overseen American efforts on researching and combating cancers since 1971, should take on an ambitious new goal for the next decade: the development of new drugs that will provide lifelong cures for many, if not all, major cancers."

I stood up and started clapping at my computer when I read his next sentence: "Beating cancer now is a realistic ambition because, at long last, we largely know its true genetic and chemical characteristics."

Watson believes :

• The new signal-blocking drugs (e.g., Herceptin) will lead only to improved lengths of survival. 
• Most anticancer drugs can reach their full potential only if given in combination with other drugs.
• We must change F.D.A. regulations to allow testing in combination new drugs that, when given alone, have proved ineffective.
• The NCI should provide funds to smaller biotech companies doing innovative work and to major research-oriented cancer centers doing low probability-high payoff projects.

Comments

[Lisa Cunningham]

Wow, that is excellent news! I'm excited and will blog about it, too. When Judah Folkman learned about angiogenesis, or a tumor attaching to a blood vessel for its nourishment, that was a huge step forward, too. I thank God every day for researchers like Folkman who won't give up the fight.

[Kairol Rosenthal]

I too was elated when I read Watson's piece in the New York Times. (I was also astounded that he had been ousted from an NCI committee. Talk about political b.s.) He probably doesn't look very cute in pink, but still, I think we need to make him the new spokesperson for the cancer movement.

Best,
Kairol
blog http://everythingchangesbook.com/