New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-13
CANCERRESEARCH
ASSAILS "CURES"
All Tested in Laboratory
Found Worthless, Says
Annual Report.
$4,000 MICE USED
IN EXPERIMENTS
Important Factors Determined at
Columbia in Use of Radium,
Director Wood States.


Director Wood States.
An elaborate investigation into the
nature Of cancer and the production Of
immunity constitute the lines Of re-
search planned for the Croker Cancer
Research laboratories at Columbia Uni
versity for the coming year. The plans
for the years work and summary Of
the results Of experiments held last
year are contained in the annual re-
port Of Dr. Francis Carter Wood, d.
rector Of the 100000 fund, given out
at the university yesterday.
DIR. Wood gives the results Of tests
made of the many so-called cancer
cures which have been brought to the
attention Of the laboratory. II was
found, he said. that these were all
worthless, and he adds that many ply
sicians are nevertheless continuing TO
use them.
In the special research work In re-
gard TO the use of radium in the treat
ncent Of cancer. DR.. Wood states that
1900 mice were used and $500 rats,
II has been found that the three impor-
tant factors in the use Of radium for
cancer is the amount Of radium, the
length OF exposure and the distance be-
tween the radium and the tumor tissue.
Prior to last year difficulty was expe-
rienced IN securing sufficient animals
for the experimental work. DR.. Wood
reports that this has been obviated, and
last year some $1,000 mice, 10000 rats,
800 rabbits, 1000 guinea pigs and 200
chickens were used by the laboratory
Other Laboratories Aided.
As extra mural work the laboratory
supplied many other institutions
With tumor bearing animals and has
so examined many special specimens
admitted, and in some instances has
e.amined patients sent by physicians.
ne report in part says:
I'VE have been fortunate in obtaining
during the year 43O spontaneous tumors
in mice from a special stock which is
being bred in order to allow of study
c. the incidence of cancer in these ami
mails. With these spontaneous tumor
criminals it has been possible to carry on
many interesting and important expert
mcnts. which could not have been done
on animals bearing transplanted tu-
mors.
"A carcinoma Of the kidney region in
e chicken was accidentally discovered
al autopsy and was transplanted into q
hundred animals, but no further
Growth was obtained A sarcoma Of
tie leg in a guinea pig was trans
planted into $50 animals. A few small
growths were obtained. and from these
subsequent inoculations were made, but
SIS yet 10 is uncertain whether the
tumor will continue TO grow in the
iuoculated animals beyond the first
generation.
Gin conformity with the terms of the
iced Of gift Of the Croker Fund, in
vostigations have been carried out on
the effectiveness of certain so-called
cures for cancer, but, unfortunately,
70 one of these agents has been shown
20 possess the slightest influence on
tumors in animals.
Tested on Men.
"Some OF them have been tested in
cases of hopelessly inoperable carci-
mona in man with equally unsatis-
factory results. II is unnecessary TO
onumerate here the names or nature Of
these cures; they have been widely ad-
vertised and are still being extensively
used by physicians, despite the knowl-
edge that their therapeutic effect Is nil.
"A number of the workers In the
laboratory have been employed during
the last year in investigating the con-
ditions which underlie the production
of metastises from inoculated tumors
into portions Of the body. This prob
lem has required reinvestigation Of
the question Of the inoculability Of
tumors into various organs in animals,
and it has been shown that there exist
no differences in the capacity Of tumor
cells TO grow in any organ of an ami
NAL. Neither Is any effect produced on
such growths by the removal Of an or
gan or organs. Nor has IL been pos
sible 70 find any stimulating or in
hibiting effect from variations In diet
on the growth Of tumors, either pri-
mary or metsstatic.
This leads TO the conclusion that
the distribution of metastatics through
out the body is dependent largely upon
mechanical conditions Of circulation
rather than upon suitable soil in the
various organs.
az tumors could be readily produced
I'm animals by artificial means. the
study of the changes in the tissues as
the growth begins might give US All i'm
portant clew 70 the cause or causes
underlying the development of cancer.
The only way in which this can be done
At present Is by exposure 70 the X
rays, which, when followed by q burn,
induces in a certain number Of animals
the formation Of tumor. There is no
reason, however, why chronic irritation
or other types should not also give rise
"a turoorg"