Promising drug for cancer

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32406, 19 September 1970, Page 3

Promising drug for cancer

f.V Z. Press Association) HASTINGS, Sept. 18. A drug discovered by Dr Bruce Cain, of Auckland, is about to be administered to cancer victims in the United States. The president of the Cancer Society of New Zealand. Mr J. Tyler (Hastings) said’ today that the drug, a chemo- i therapeutic agent, was “very promising.” “We are very excited that! a New Zealand doctor has been able to achieve results ! m this field.” he said. “I understand the drug has been tested in the United States, and is about to be administered to humans.” The drug kills the cancer ‘ cells without damaging ord-' inary cells. - ' . I Criticisms “Sour Grapes” ! Mr Tyler said there had! been criticisms by several | Auckland doctors recently! that the society was not getting any results from, the! money being spent on re-! search. Over the last six| years, more than $1 million has been spent on this work,' averaging about $200,000 a year. “I think these criticisms! are more sour grapes than anything else,” said Mr! Tyler. Although cancer research was being done in all fields, the biggest advances were

now being made in chemo- | therapy or the chemical ! treatment of cancer. “We feel the results from cancer research more than justify the money spent,” Mr Tyler I said. Officers Elected Officers o£ the society were elected as follows: President, Mr J. M. Tyler (Hastings); vice - presidents, Messrs C. T. Collins (Wellington) ■ and A. K. Ibbotson (Dunedin); trustees, Sir Duncan Stout (Wellington), Dr P. P. Lynch (Wellington), and Mr M. J. Kennedy ■(Wellington); secretary-treasurer. !Mr J. Murphy (Wellington). Dr G. W. Gower (Hamilton) was elected a life member of the society.