President Kennedy swore in Luther Terry as US Surgeon General
On Mar. 2, 1961, President Kennedy swore in Luther Leonidas Terry as U.S. Surgeon General. The landmark Surgeon…
Platelet concentrates were recognized for reducing the mortality from hemorrhage in cancer patients
In 1961, platelet concentrates were recognized for reducing the mortality from hemorrhage in cancer patients.
The CDC expanded its reach into chronic disease by investigating a cancer cluster in Illinois
In 1961, the CDC expanded its reach into chronic disease by investigating a cancer cluster in Illinois.
Last remaining source of the Hoxsey cancer treatment was eliminated by a federal court order
On Sept. 21, 1960, FDA officials announced the last remaining major source of the discredited Hoxsey cancer treatment…
Biotechnology | NIH | Oncology | Therapeutics
The Eppley Cancer Center was founded
In 1960, The Eppley Cancer Center, now a National Cancer Institute Laboratory Cancer Research Center, began in the…
The McArdle Laboratories were dedicated
In 1960, the construction of the first McArdle building resulted from a gift by Michael W. McArdle. Dr….
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) was approved by the FDA
On Nov. 16, 1959, Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), an alkylating agent designed to improve the selectivity of cancer drugs, was…
The Journal of the National Cancer Institute inaugurated a series of publications for in-depth scientific communications
In 1959, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute inaugurated a series of occasional publications as Monographs to…
University of Western Ontario researchers developed the anti-cancer drug vinblastine
In 1959, University of Western Ontario researchers Dr. Charles Beer and Dr. Robert L. Noble developed the anti-cancer…
Charles Heidelberger introduced 5-fluorouracil, a new type of anticancer drug that resulted from rational design
In 1957, Charles Heidelberger introduces 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a new type of anticancer drug that resulted from rational design.
The first malignancy (choriocarcinoma) was cured with chemotherapy at the National Cancer Institute
In 1957, Roy Hertz and Min Chiu Li achieve the first completed cure of a human solid tumor…
Stanford Medicine became the first to use linear accelerator to treat cancer in Western hemisphere
In 1956, Stanford Medicine became the first to use linear accelerator to treat cancer in Western hemisphere.
The National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Chemotherapy National Service Center was established
On Apr. 1, 1955, the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Chemotherapy National Service Center was established in the institute…
The National Chemotherapy Program was launched
In 1955, The National Cancer Chemotherapy Program was initiated. It was administered and integrated by the Division of…
The National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Program was established
In 1955, the NCIﾒs Cooperative Group Program for clinical research was established in 1955 and has grown to…
The FDA approved methotrexate, an antimetabolite derived from folic acid, and 6-mercaptopurine as anticancer drugs
On Dec. 7, 1953, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved methotrexate, an antimetabolite derived from folic…
The Cancer Research Institute was established
On Jan. 27, 1953, the Cancer Research Institute was founded by Helen Coley Nauts, and is the worldﾒs…
Yale established first pharmacology department in the U.S. to focus on cancer chemotherapy and drug development
In 1953, Yale established the first pharmacology department in the U.S. to focus on cancer chemotherapy and cancer…
Disease | FDA | Life Science History | Medicine | Oncology | Pharmaceutical | Radiology
Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase verified genes were made of DNA
In 1952, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase conducted a series of experiments at the Carnegie Institute of Washington…
The Ben May Laboratory for Cancer Research at the University of Chicago opened
On Jun. 1, 1951, the Ben May Laboratory for Cancer Research at the University of Chicago opened its…
Biotechnology | COVID-19 | Diagnostics | Life Science History | NIH | Non-Profit Research | Polio | Vaccine
Henrietta Lacks died from cervical cancer, and HeLa cell line was born
On Feb. 8, 1951, Henrietta Lacks, a tobacco farmer from Virginia died from cervical cancer, and a scientist…
Ernst Wynder, Evarts Graham, and Sir Richard Doll confirmed the cigarette smoking-cancer link
In 1950, Ernst Wynder, Evarts Graham, and Sir Richard Doll confirmed the cigarette smoking-cancer link. In 1950, Wynder…
Delaney Committee started congressional investigation of the safety of chemicals in foods and cosmetics
In 1950, the Delaney Committee started congressional investigation of the safety of chemicals in foods and cosmetics, laying…
Sidney Farber and colleagues achieved the first remissions in Wilms tumor of the kidney
In 1950, Sidney Farber and colleagues achieved the first remissions in Wilms tumor of the kidney, a common…
The Michigan Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society began sponsoring new cancer research and outreach activities
In 1950, the Michigan Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society began sponsoring new cancer research and outreach…
The FDA approved nitrogen mustard (mechlorethamine) to kill cancer cells
In 1949, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nitrogen mustard to kill cancer cells. The major use…
Canadaﾒs first full-time cancer physicist, Dr. Harold Johns, led the world in development the cobalt bomb cancer treatment
In 1949, Canadaﾒs first full-time cancer physicist, Dr. Harold Johns, led the world in development the cobalt bomb…
The National Cancer Institute’s grants program to medical, dental, and osteopathic schools was initiated
In 1948, the National Cancer Institute’s grants program to medical, dental, and osteopathic schools was initiated for improvement…
University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) established the Cancer Research Institute
In 1947, The first attempt at coordinating cancer at University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) was a…
The Detroit Cancer Center was established
In 1948, the Detroit Cancer Center was established from the union of the Detroit Institute for Cancer Research…