Professor Defends Cancer Findings

Harvard Medical School Professor M. Judah Folkman was the subject of much media fanfare in May, when his groundbreaking cancer research on mice was touted as paving the way to a cure for cancer.

But now Folkman, who is Andrus professor of Pediatric Surgery, is back in the spotlight and defending his honor as the race to use his technique in human trials has hit a snag.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) said in a statement in May that it would make research on these compounds a high priority, but so far it has been unsuccessful in replicating Folkman's results in similar studies.

The NCI's concerns were reported in an article in The Wall Street Journal last Thursday.

Folkman dismissed the criticism and stood by his results.

In a May article in The New York Times, James D. Watson, co-discoverer of DNA, was quoted as saying, "Judah is going to cure cancer in two years."

In his experiments, Folkman used a technique that cuts off a tumor's blood supply by inhibiting the growth of blood vessels that serve it.

He also reported finding two proteins, angiostatin and endostatin, that stop blood vessel growth in mice--thus starving the cancer--without any observed side effects.

As is common practice with such landmark discoveries, other researchers have begun their own experiments to corroborate Folkman's data and refine the technique. So far, however, his resultshave not been duplicated in full.

"To date, NCI studies using either the mouse orhuman forms of endostatin have not produced themarked regression of these tumors in mice thatFolkman's laboratory has reported," the NCI saidin a press release.

But in a press release responding to the NCI,Folkman remained optimistic that his results wouldeventually be corroborated.

"This is not surprising, because in the past ithas usually taken at least two or more yearsbefore such reports appear," he said.

When transferring techniques betweenlaboratories, a "learning period" is standard, hesaid.

To expedite the "learning period," researchersfrom Folkman's lab and NCI will be workingtogether to solve the problems.

Folkman has long theorized that haltingangiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels,could stop tumors' spread.

In the early stages, colleagues dismissedFolkman's theory, and Folkman was unable to findresearchers to help him pursue the project.

But a decade ago, when Folkman found a drugthat successfully stifled angiogenesis andresulted in marked reduction in tumor size, thescientific world began to pay attention.

By using a combination of two anti-angiogenesisfactors, Folkman now successfully eliminatesnearly all tumors in mice, but his research is farfrom being useful for humans.

"If you have cancer and you are a mouse, we cantake good care of you," Folkman said earlier thisyear.

But until his results can be replicated,Folkman's experiments can not be taken to the nextstep

"To date, NCI studies using either the mouse orhuman forms of endostatin have not produced themarked regression of these tumors in mice thatFolkman's laboratory has reported," the NCI saidin a press release.

But in a press release responding to the NCI,Folkman remained optimistic that his results wouldeventually be corroborated.

"This is not surprising, because in the past ithas usually taken at least two or more yearsbefore such reports appear," he said.

When transferring techniques betweenlaboratories, a "learning period" is standard, hesaid.

To expedite the "learning period," researchersfrom Folkman's lab and NCI will be workingtogether to solve the problems.

Folkman has long theorized that haltingangiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels,could stop tumors' spread.

In the early stages, colleagues dismissedFolkman's theory, and Folkman was unable to findresearchers to help him pursue the project.

But a decade ago, when Folkman found a drugthat successfully stifled angiogenesis andresulted in marked reduction in tumor size, thescientific world began to pay attention.

By using a combination of two anti-angiogenesisfactors, Folkman now successfully eliminatesnearly all tumors in mice, but his research is farfrom being useful for humans.

"If you have cancer and you are a mouse, we cantake good care of you," Folkman said earlier thisyear.

But until his results can be replicated,Folkman's experiments can not be taken to the nextstep