Surely no one in those days had any firm grounds for expecting that recombinant CSFs would be billion-dollar clinical agents. Mass production of recombinant forms using a cDNA was no easy matter either. Metcalf honestly regrets not filing provisional patent applications. In any case, Metcalf seems to be pleased to learn that mammalian CSFs do exist as a genuine cellular product, and that his many years of effort were not a waste of time. This book is highly recommended for everyone working in the field.
Newcomers can learn how hematopoietic regulators have been discovered.
The book vividly illustrates each epoch-making discovery on the presence of CSFs, their activities both in vitro and in vivo, cloning of their cDNA and receptors, intracellular signaling mechanisms, and whole animal gene manipulation models. As part of his team, Professor Metcalf continues to regularly spend 6 to 8 hours each day at his microscope, even though he has had two laminectomies. Many other prominent scientists would have long ago delegated such work to an army of technicians. In spite of physical pain and global competition, Metcalf has a knack for steering his way toward productive research directions and is undaunted in the face of early obstacles. After all is said and done, I was overwhelmed both by the excellence of Professor Metcalf's research and by the honest and frank tone of his writing.