Cancer Thought To Be Viral Disease

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31045, 28 April 1966, Page 11

Cancer Thought To Be Viral Disease

(A’.Z. Press Association —Copyright) WASHINGTON, April 26. The director <>f th e National Cancer Institute has said that the identification of virus as a cause of cancer “ may be within reach.”

Dr. K. M. Endicott was testifying before a House appropriations sub-committee. He also told the panel that deaths from cancer were at « higher rate than ever. Dr. Endicott said that dur-! ing the last year it has been “firmly established’’ that leukemia in cats was a viral disease. He said particles similar to the virus in cats had been found in human beings. In addition, laboratory cultures of human cancer cells had produced an unidentified particle resembling a known virus. "It is only a matter of time.

I believe, until viruses join the list of causes of cancer in man,” Dr. Endicott said. In three decades the cancer cure rate had risen from 25 to 35 per cent. But the incidence of cancer had increased even more, from 112 to 153 per 100,000. “New cancer causes must be at work,” he said. “1 am firmly convinced that the unexplained increase in cancer must be attributed largely to an increase in man’s exposure to cancer-causing agents in his daily environment.” The institute is doing research into possible cancercausing effects of such things as pollutants in the air or food additives.