IMPORTANT RESEARCH ON CANCER

Southland Times, Issue 25546, 14 December 1944, Page 5

IMPORTANT RESEARCH ON CANCER

Definite Progress Being Made (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 13. Work on growth-inhibitory agents has showed that definite progress is being made towards the prevention of cancer, stated Professor F. L. Hopwood, professor of physics at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College. He was speaking at a meeting of the British Empire Cancer Campaign. Professor Hopwood added: “Regarding the cure of cancer, we can view the future with ever-increasing confidence.” The year’s work had completely confirmed the value of diethylstilboestrol in treating cancer of the prostate gland. A few cases of breast cancer had responded to chemotherapy, but no extravagant hopes of immediate success in this field should be raised.

After outlining the development of new types of radiation equipment, Prof. Hopwood said that a new method of investigation and treatment, combining radiotherapy and chemotherapy, is a striking possible future development. New radiations and radioactive substances must also have applications to agriculture and industry. Much progress continued to be made on problems relating to the genesis of cancer, he said. The earlier idea that any chronic irritation was predisposed to malignancy was giving place to the view that the irritation, of itself, was unlikely to cause cancer, or even produce a precancerous state, but if a precancerous state happened to exist, irritation might hasten the appearance of a tumour.

“The study of the precancerous state, therefore, is of first rate importance,” concluded the professor, “and is being actively pursued.” The campaign headquarters allocated £40,000 sterling for research in 1945.

EXPLOSION AT FACTORY.— Two were killed and at least 25 injured through an explosion at the Hercules Power Company plant in California, which shattered windows in a nearby town. The explosion was felt 25 miles away. (New York).