Dr. Rosenberg recognized for cancer research

Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph,D., chief of surgery at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md., received the AAD Cancer Research Award yesterday.

Each year, the award is given to a scientist whose contribution to cancer research has been outstanding in practice and distinction by association standards.

In his speech, he thanked the AAD and showed slides depicting the first tumors - afflicting dinosaurs thousands of years ago. He said the first tumors to be treated were probably those suffered by Egyptians in 1600 B.C. The tumors were removed with a knife or red-hot iron.

He described how the administration of cancer vaccines can result in the generation of high levels of anti-tumor lymphocytes. He also covered new approaches to cell transfer immunotherapy, a treatment that uses the body's natural defenses to fight the disease.

He said it can result in cancer regression in 50 percent of patients with melanoma who do not respond to other treatments.