A Letter from the President
Dear Readers
Edward J. Benz Jr., MD
Think of cancer research, and the picture that's likely to come to mind is of a white-coated scientist in a laboratory or a physician testing a new treatment in patients. While such scenes still dominate what we view as cancer science, the actual spectrum of investigative activities is much broader.
The cover story of this issue of Paths of Progress is a case in point. Dana-Farber researchers are working with organizations ranging from day camps to labor unions on ways to convey cancer-prevention messages to the community. This is an exceedingly complicated challenge. Health messages need to be specially tailored for different groups: an "exercise regularly" campaign targeted at upper-middle-class populations probably will have less impact in immigrant communities where finances may be tight and English often is not the primary language.
That's why Dana-Farber researchers are taking their programs directly to areas where people live, work, congregate, and go to school. By field-testing strategies for reducing cancer risk, investigators will be able to analyze how successful such programs are, and — in the best tradition of science — refine and re-refine them to make them more effective. Another area of research at Dana-Farber is what used to be referred to as "unconventional" medicine and is now generally called "complementary" therapy. At the urging of patients, and with the hard work of our staff, the Institute now offers services such as acupuncture, reiki therapy, and yoga through the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies.
Named after a Dana-Farber patient and advocate, the center provides these services not just because they very often help patients feel better, but as part of a rigorous scientific effort to measure their potential level of anti-cancer activity. In one study, researchers are exploring whether Qigong, an ancient Chinese relaxation technique, provides benefits beyond those that can be obtained by a regular program of aerobic exercise.
These types of investigations differ in subject matter and setting from traditional laboratory and clinical research, but the aim is the same: to learn whether a particular approach has value, to measure that value, and find a way to increase it.
This issue also contains several stories on the extraordinary advances of which science seems unendingly capable. Among these articles is a behind-the-scenes look at Dana-Farber's role in the development of Gleevec, a medication that has made headlines for its success against chronic myelogenous leukemia and some other cancers. Gleevec is one of the first of a new generation of therapies that take aim at cancer cells' weak points, making the tumor cells behave more like normal cells.
Other research-oriented articles focus on the lessons being gleaned from the study of rare cancer syndromes, on progress in the treatment and prevention of colorectal cancer, and on Dana-Farber's scientific contributions to the 20-year crusade against AIDS.
The ever-quickening pace of cancer research places a new urgency on our efforts to map the Institute's future direction. Decisions made today about where to allocate our resources and concentrate our energies will affect the advances that emerge tomorrow. The diversity of Dana-Farber's research — illustrated in this issue — underscores the breadth of both our mission and our opportunity.
We hope you find the issue interesting and informative and, as always, encourage you to contact the editor with any comments, questions, or suggestions for future articles.
Edward J. Benz Jr., MD
President, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
