INSULIN AND CANCER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18994, 16 April 1925, Page 8

INSULIN AND CANCER.

CHECKING THE SCOURGE. VIENNA PROFESSOR'S CLAIM. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] LONDON, Mar. 10. Professor Silberstem, of Vienna, claims that insulin can bo used to check the growth of cancer so as to make operations more effective. London medical men have expressed opinions on this claim. "It is possible there may be something in it," said Sir J. Bland-Sutton. "It is certainly an interesting.line of investigation. Insulin is easily obtainable, and doctors can put the professor's claims to the test. There is no risk in it. In cancer of the pancreas—from which insulin is prepared—the tumour seldom attains a large size; arid it has often been thought that this must be due in some way to the physiological action of the pancreas." i)r. H. H. Dale, head of the department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology under the Medical Research Council, received the report with caution: "I have no details," he said. "'The Vienna report does not convince me at all." '.'Observations made in connection %viLh the thyroid gland at the Eugenic Laboratory,"' said Dr. C. W. Saleeby, "suggest that there is a connection between the activity of that gland and the prevention of cancer. Therefore this message from Vienna is suggestive and hopelul. Insulin has not hitherto been used in tile treatment of cancer "