The notion that cancer may have hereditary roots dates back to the early twentieth century. This idea gained traction with the groundbreaking work of Harvard scientist Ernest E. Tyzzer, who demonstrated through experiments with mice that cancer could indeed be passed down through generations. The United States took a significant step in its fight against cancer by inaugurating the "war on cancer" with the signing of the National Cancer Act in 1971. This pivotal legislation was aimed at intensifying research efforts into the biology of cancer, with the ultimate goal of developing effective treatments and potential cures for the disease.
The enactment of the National Cancer Act marked a major commitment from the federal government to dedicate considerable resources to cancer research. By 1974, however, the White House's proposed budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocated three times more funding for private contractors compared to traditional research grants. This shift in funding strategy underscored a growing reliance on private sector collaboration in the quest to conquer cancer.
The discovery of DNA's double helix structure in the 1950s was a monumental leap forward for molecular biology, yet it wasn't until the late seventies that this field began to significantly focus on cancer research. In 1971, the establishment of the Special Virus Cancer Program (SVCP) aimed to explore the potential role of viruses in cancer development. Under the leadership of Robert Huebner, inspired by French studies on bacterial genes, the SVCP sought to investigate viral carcinogenesis through Huebner's "oncogene theory."
Huebner's vision led to substantial financial investments in both private contractors and public institutions for studying viral actions in suspected human cancers. By 1976, the extent of contract work became so pronounced that SVCP project officers were stationed within private contractor facilities. This era witnessed a major breakthrough in 1976 with the discovery of the gene src in normal human cells, significantly advancing the understanding of cancer.
By the late seventies, researchers had cataloged several viral genes suspected to be linked with human cancers. The discovery of proteins involved in carcinogenesis in 1983 further solidified the Somatic Mutation Theory (SMT) as the prevailing theory for understanding cancer's development.
Despite these advancements, prominent voices like Nafis Hasan argue that over half a century of research has not effectively reduced overall cancer rates. Hasan contends that the "war on cancer" has failed to deliver on its promise of significantly lowering cancer incidence.
In 1902, Theodor Boveri famously stated:
"the problem of tumors is a cell problem" – Theodor Boveri
This insight laid foundational ideas for future cancer research endeavors. The SVCP and its successor, the Virus Cancer Program (VCP), continued their efforts to unravel cancer's mysteries during the Reagan administration, which supported their research initiatives.
While significant strides have been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms behind carcinogenesis, much work remains to be done. Robert Weinberg noted:
"The greatest decreases in cancer-associated mortality have come from reductions in disease incidence [prevention] rather than treatment, such as the therapies that some anticipated would flow directly from RAS research" – Robert Weinberg
This statement highlights the critical role of prevention strategies over treatment alone in reducing cancer mortality rates.
