5 Scientists Who Shaped Cancer Research

The Wiley Network

5 Scientists Who Shaped Cancer Research

Meghan Marino, Associate Manager, Field Marketing, Wiley

April 30, 2024

May marks National Cancer Research Month in the United States. Founded by The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), this month honors the commitment of scientists and researchers to tackle the complexities of this disease and forge new paths towards effective treatment plans.

Cancer’s name traces back thousands of years. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (460-370 B.C.) equated the reaching shapes of tumors and growths with the crab, or the greek carcinos/karkinos. The word would later be translated to the Latin word for crab, “cancer.”

The disease has been around for quite some time, stretching back even before it was given a common name. Much of our understanding of cancer has come to fruition only recently, with modern care practices made possible by the work of scientists from all over the world. For National Cancer Research Month, let’s look at a handful of research heroes whose work has changed the field of oncology as we know it:

Scientists Who Have Made a Difference in Cancer Treatment

Dr. Jane C. Wright (1919–2013)

Wright was a trailblazer for cancer treatment. Her father, Louis Wright, was one of the earliest African American graduates from Harvard Medical School and founded the Harlem Hospital Cancer Research Center. Joining her father in the field of Oncology, the duo teamed up to test anti-cancer chemicals. Dr. Jane Wright discovered the effectiveness of methotrexate in treating breast cancer, a milestone that paved the way for the use of chemotherapy in tumor treatment. Subsequently, she helped to charter the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), where she stood as the sole female member of the founding group.

Dr. Jane C Wright in the Archives:
Featured in the meeting minutes of The New York Academy of Sciences between 1954-1955, Dr. Wright was highlighted as a guest speaker, where she spoke on the topic of chemotherapy usage in human cancer.

View the collection (with a free trial or institutional access): Eunice Thomas Miner, Roy Waldo Miner, et al., Records of the Council, Series II: Meeting Minutes, Box 8, Folder 1, 1954-1955, The New York Academy of Sciences archives.

“Takashi Sugimura was inaugurated as President of Japan Academy on October, 2013” by 歴代会長・院長｜日本学士院 is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Dr. Takashi Sugimura (1926–2020)
As a Japanese biochemist known for researching chemical carcinogens, Dr. Sugimura was an internationally renowned scientist who participated in prestigious academies and associations all over the world. His work helped us to better understand how genetic mutations can lead to cancer, specifically via mutagens from specific cooking methods, ingested through food, and resulting in gene mutations that affect tumor growth.

Takashi Sugimura in the Archives:
Featured by the non-profit academic publishing company Annual Reviews in 1981, Sugimura was listed under the Annual Review of Genetics, Volume 12, for his work concerning Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens.

View the collection (with a free trial or institutional access): Hargrett Library, University of Georgia/Ecological Society of America, Ecological Society of America, ESA Estrays, 1981, Environmental Science and History archive.

Marie Curie (1867–1934)
The first woman to hold a professorship at the University of Paris, Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1903 and in chemistry in 1911. Curie changed the tides of WWI by creating a mobile x-ray machine that is estimated to have helped over 1,000,000 wounded soldiers. The talented scientist and humanitarian is most known for her research surrounding radioactivity and discoveries of radioisotopes polonium and radium. This work paved the way for radiation therapy in the field of oncology, a cancer treatment that uses beams of high energy to kill cancer cells.

Marie Curie in the Archives:
Marking the centenary of her discovery of radioactivity in 1998, Curie was the focal point of a program presented by the New York Academy of Sciences and other international academies.

Other documentation highlights The Marie Curie Memorial Foundation, an organization founded to fund palliative and end of life care research, and to provide care for patients with terminal illnesses.

View the Collection (with a free trial or institutional access): Denise Grady, Edward T. Morman, et al., Records of Conferences and Events, Series II: Conference and Special Events Materials (1942-1969), Box 12, Folder 13, 1996-1998, The New York Academy of Sciences archive.

RCP Library, 31st December, 1952, The Royal College of Physicians archive.

John Hunter (1728–1793)
A British surgeon, Hunter’s contributions revolutionized the field of surgery. He challenged the four-humor paradigm (balancing levels of blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm for good health) and, through anatomical studies and innovative surgical techniques, laid the groundwork for modern surgical approaches. His observations of early and late-stage metastasis would help to inform future discoveries in the field of oncology.

John Hunter in the Archives:
Hunter lacked a formal education, working as a cabinet maker before becoming his brother’s apprentice in anatomy. Wiley Digital Archives contains a letter of complaint from physician Grant David Yeats who was insulted by Hunter’s practice without licensure.

Another letter came from one of Hunter’s students, Edward Jenner, creator of the smallpox vaccine. Jenner disagreed with Hunter’s theories concerning blood, but the friendly debate ends with “We were discussing your museum last night and I must dare to boast that it was the best of its kind in the country.” Hunter collected over 14,000 human and animal specimens from surgical experiments, which he preserved in glass jars.

View the Collection (with a free trial or institutional access): Royal College of Physicians of London, College Legal Status, Unlicensed Practice, March 31. 1827, The Royal College of Physicians archive.

E. Jenner, Edward Jenner, Autograph Letter Sequence, Autograph letters to and from individuals with surnames beginning with J, March 4, 1793, The Royal College of Physicians archive.

“Zhu Chen: past and future of health care reform in China” by National Science Review 2(4):nwv065 is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Dr. Zhu Chen (1953–)
In a combination of Chinese medicine with Western medicine, hematologist and molecular biologist Dr. Chen is dedicated to translational research on leukemia and genomic research in China. Among collaborators, he has pioneered the use of a targeted therapy called all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) combined with chemotherapy to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), greatly improving patient outcomes.

Zhu Chen in the Archives
Dr. Zhu Chen’s work in ATRA in conjunction with APL is highlighted in Biological and Medical Sciences Nominations from 2004 from The New York Academy of Science. Chen is mentioned in a nomination for Dr. Samuel Waxman, one of Chen’s collaborators who is considered the “father of differentiation therapy.”

View the Collection (with a free trial or institutional access): Eric R. Kandel, Richard W. Tsien, et al., Records of the Mayor's Awards, Series II: Nomination Materials (1987-2005), Box 5, Folder 9, April 20-June 30, 2004, New York Academy of Sciences archive.

As we conclude our tribute to this talented of individuals, we recognize that many have impacted the field of cancer research. Scientists all over the world have catalyzed advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, offering hope to millions. Their contributions are a testament to the collective effort driving progress in the fight against cancer.

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