Evening star., 1931-12-13
DEVICE MAY MAKE
CANCER CELLS TALK
New Mechanism Is BEING
Perfected by Public Health
Service Biologists.

A mechanism that may make cancer
cells talk-and possibly tell some
hitherto impenetrable secrets-is being
perfected by biologists of the United
States Public Health Service.
This device depends on a recent
European disCCvery-nOt universally aC-
cepted by biologistS-that all dividing
cells emit a peculiar sort of radiation
with wave length somewhere between
that of ultraviolet light and ordinary
X-rays. The nature CT these So-called
"mitogenetiC rays" thrown off by living
matter, together with that Of the mys-
terious cosmic rays from outer space
thus far has eluded physicists.
All growth is a matter of cell divi-
sion, and apparently every time one
cell splits into two a tiny bit Ct in
visible light Of great penetrating power
is produced. A popularity of the cells
of malignant tumors is that their rate
OF division is accelerated and uncon-
trolled, while they force the rest of the
body to yield them blood supply and
nouriShment. The mystery Of cancer
appears largely associated with the un-
derlying physico-Chemical mechanism
Of cell division and its possible ab-
normalities
Thompson Describes Device.
The device is described by Assistant
Surgeon General L. R. Thompson, in
charge of scientific research for the
Public Health Service, in his annual
report. 1t is an amplification of an
extremely sensitive apparatus for de-
tecting and measuring very small guam
titles Of radiation-the so-called Geiger
counter tube. 1t consists essentially cf
-. al tN11 all 10 81, l,yv ns,1
choice Of materials, can be made espe-
cially sensitive to radiation in the
ultraviolet portion of the spectrum.
Electrical impulses caused by the en-
trance of radiation through the quartz
window of this photo-electric cell can,
according to the Public Health Service
description, "be amplified in an ampli-
fer of special design SO that they may
be made audible by the use of a loud
speaker, or may operate a counting de-
vice which records numerically the
impulses resulting from the incident
radiation"
Will Try To Classify Light.
With this instrument the Public
Health Service biologists will try TO de-
termine whether mitogenetic radiation
is a reality or whether the reported
European results may not have been
due to obServational errors. If they sue
ceed in establishing the actuality of the
rays they will try to place them def
nitely in the light spectrum, presumably
somewhere toward the END of the ultra
violet. Then they will be able 10 make
exact measurements of the variations N
such radiation from different Corts of
dividing cells, including those Of
malignant tumors.
1908 fha -arNCrt tklayaY,J
Gurwitsch published an exceedingly in
teresting observation that dividing cells
emit radiation of frequency in the
ultraviolet This radiation has, ac-
cording to Gurwitsch, the property of
stimulating the process of cell division
in the neighboring cells. His results
have apparently been confirmed by
competent European Investigators. So
far In the United States this work MP
pears to have attracted but little atten-
ton. Since malignant cells are said to
emit this radiation it would appear that
study of this phenomenon might throw
light on the mechanism by which Vhey
induce the body to furnish them with 4
supporting strcma and with a blood
supply"
Experiment With Roots.
Biological experiments are being
carried on with onion rootlets and yeast
cells, both of which are stated to be
very sensitive indicators of mitogenetic
radiation. So far, according to the re-
port, these experiments have been in
conclusive
This is one of several researches un-
derway by Public Health Service work
ers, according TO the report in an effort
TO get at the fundamental biology of
q 1ia1H yryk,g Lob nTS
may develop for their cure. 1t has been
found that some KINDS Of experimental
turnTs in animals can be halted by rais-
ing the body temperature by electricity.
A special device has been constructed BY
which the temperature of monkeys and
rabbits can be raised several degrees
in a short time, employing a frequency
of from 40 to SO million cycles per
second. The biologists are trying 70
determine how long the animals can be
exposed TO such treatment without III
effects.
One notable discovery is reported
but 1t is stressed that it applies to one
kind of malignant tumor in mice and
that inferences cannot be drawn as to
the effect in other kinds, such as various
types of cancers in human beings. It
had been observed that once one of
these malignant growths was cured by
Use of high-frequency currents, the
animal sometimes became immune to
reinoculation with the tumor. That is.
one cancer produced an immunity to
others, opening the way to a search
for some possible immunizing serum.
Cancer Can Be TranspIanted.
Now it has been found that this par
ticular cancer can be transplanted from
Cne rat into the tail of another, where
1t grows very slowly without much ef-
feet on the rest Of the body. After
giving the tunor reasonable time to
develop, the tail is amputated Then. in
about 10 per cent of the cases. it is
found impossible to transplant a tumor
TO any other part of the body. It con-
stitutes somewhat heroic cancer vac
cine therapy-for rats
Room temperature also was found to
have notable effect on this same sort
OF rat cancer, In warm cages the
tail cancers grew rapidly. In cold
cages the growth was much slower
About two years ago there was much
excitement over reported cure" for
cancer, consisting Of an extract from
the corteX Of the adrenal gland of
sheep. Recently the Public Health Sery-
ice biologists have obtained the exact
patent specifications for this serum and
found that it has no significant effect
on the growth of transplantable tumors,
such as can be studied in the laboratory.
An extract was prepared from the It's
sue OF frogs which, without any bad
effects on the animal reduced to about
one-hah the rate OF growth Of one form
Of mouse cancer"
Secure a Receipt and Ship Christ