X-Message-Number: 9611
From: Ettinger <>
Date: Sun, 3 May 1998 22:03:11 EDT
Subject: Cancer cure?

A front page story in the Sunday SCOTTSDALE TRIBUNE says that a drug
combination devised by Dr. Judah Folkman (Children's Hospital, Boston) shrinks
and eliminates all cancers (in fact, apparently, all tumors) in mice, by
preventing development of their blood supply. This approach is old news, but
the writer says the unreleased results are even more sensationally successful
than those widely known. The usual caution is that what works in mice may not
work in humans. Human clinical trials are said to be in preparation on a
priority basis.

Dr. Richard Klausner, director of the National Cancer Institute, is reported
to have said that the NCI has made the drugs their top priority, "the single
most exciting  thing on the horizon" for the treatment of cancer. (I wonder if
Klausner could be a relative of mine. My paternal grandmother's maiden name
was Klausner.)

Nobel laureate James Watson, director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, is
quoted as Folkman would be remembered along with scientists such as Darwin as
someone who permanently altered civilization.

If the full hopes are realized, the results will be enormous in several ways.
For one thing, the economic repercussions in medicine will be huge. Medical
insurance costs will shrink. Some drug companies will benefit, while others
will be hurt. Life expectancy will increase by about two years, which will
impact social security. The overall financial impact will be a large national
gain, because of reduced medical expenses and greater average productivity.
(Not to mention the pain patients will be spared.)

Psychologically, there may be a further spurt in recognition and appreciation
of the potential of biotech. This may extend to cryonics. "Gee, cancer wiped
out! What won't they do next! Eliminate aging? Revive frozen people? Something
to think about."

We won't count our chickens yet, but this or something(s) more or less
equivalent WILL come along.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
http://www.cryonics.org

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