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China Scientists Given US Award for Cancer Breakthrough
publication date: Jan 20, 2012
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author/source: Richard Daverman, PhD
Two China scientists have been awarded a prestigious US prize for their groundbreaking work with a form of leukemia. By combining traditional Chinese medicine and western approaches, they increased the five-year survival rate of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) from 25% to an astonishing 95%. In recognition of their contribution, Drs. Zhen-Yi Wang and Zhu Chen were named recipients of the 7th Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research by the National Foundation for Cancer Research in the US.
In the early 1980s, Dr. Wang was a clinical researcher at the Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai. He performed the first successful induction therapy on APL patients using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). The use of ATRA produced a significant increase in survival rates.
Dr. Chen, who had been one of Wang’s Master’s students, added a TCM to the mix. Dr. Chen helped to identify the molecular mechanisms of both ATRA and arsenic trioxide, a TCM that had been in use for 2,400 years, on APL. Starting in the 1990s, Drs. Wang and Chen together conducted clinical trials combining ATRA and arsenic trioxide in patients with APL, the current standard of care.
APL is a subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, representing about 5% to 8% of all cases of AML. Median age of onset for the disease is 40, which is much younger than other forms of AML, about 70. Its incidence is higher in people of Latin American origin.
Dr. Wang is currently Professor Emeritus at the Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and is recognized as the one of the first experts in thrombosis and hemostasis in China. He published 320 scientific papers during his distinguished career. In the past, Dr. Wang served as honorary editor-in-chief of The Chinese Journal of Hematology, and former council member of International Society for Heart Research and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH).
Dr. Chen is the current Minister of Health for the Peoples Republic of China, a position he has held since 2007. Dr. Chen is the only non-party member to hold that post since the 1970s. Sent to the countryside for “re-education” during the Cultural Revolution, Dr. Chen learned medicine on his own for two years. He was a “barefoot doctor” practicing many of the traditional Chinese therapies. Recognized for his medical work by the local rural population, Dr. Chen was selected to attend medical school at Shangrao Health School Jiangxi. He later received his Master’s degree from the Shanghai Second Medical University and his Doctorate from the University of Paris VII.
The Szent-Györgyi Prize includes a $25,000 honorarium. An official ceremony will be held on March 6, 2012 in New York City to award the Prize to Dr. Wang and Dr. Chen.
“Drs. Wang and Chen have quite literally changed the face of medicine for those patients suffering from APL. Their combined work has saved millions of lives around the world both today and for future generations,” said Dr. Beatrice Mintz, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Chair of the 7th Selection Committee of Szent-Györgyi Prize and winner of the 6th Annual Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Prize. “I cannot imagine a better testament to the outcomes of investing in cancer research than what these two distinguished scientists have achieved.”
“In keeping with the spirit of nonconformity that NFCR founder Albert Szent-Györgyi is known for, the selection of Drs. Wang and Chen has a significant meaning to those who work in the trenches of cancer research each day,” said Sujuan Ba, Ph.D., Co-Chair of the Szent-Györgyi Prize Selection Committee and Chief Operating Officer of NFCR. “True scientific discovery comes from ideas and basic research. These two scientists are inspirational as they both have dedicated their lives to this work that will impact the world for generations to come.”
“I am so glad to see that the efforts we have devoted to research on Leukemia these last several decades have led to solid clinical benefits to APL patients around world. We will continue our efforts in finding more effective therapies to treat cancers,” said Dr. Wang.
“It is quite humbling to know that our colleagues across the various scientific disciplines selected us. We know there are thousands of scientists worldwide working every day to cure cancer. I hope our work may continue to inspire others,” said Dr. Chen. “This is a great honor for Dr. Wang and me.”
Disclosure: none.
In the early 1980s, Dr. Wang was a clinical researcher at the Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai. He performed the first successful induction therapy on APL patients using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). The use of ATRA produced a significant increase in survival rates.
Dr. Chen, who had been one of Wang’s Master’s students, added a TCM to the mix. Dr. Chen helped to identify the molecular mechanisms of both ATRA and arsenic trioxide, a TCM that had been in use for 2,400 years, on APL. Starting in the 1990s, Drs. Wang and Chen together conducted clinical trials combining ATRA and arsenic trioxide in patients with APL, the current standard of care.
APL is a subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, representing about 5% to 8% of all cases of AML. Median age of onset for the disease is 40, which is much younger than other forms of AML, about 70. Its incidence is higher in people of Latin American origin.
Dr. Wang is currently Professor Emeritus at the Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and is recognized as the one of the first experts in thrombosis and hemostasis in China. He published 320 scientific papers during his distinguished career. In the past, Dr. Wang served as honorary editor-in-chief of The Chinese Journal of Hematology, and former council member of International Society for Heart Research and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH).
Dr. Chen is the current Minister of Health for the Peoples Republic of China, a position he has held since 2007. Dr. Chen is the only non-party member to hold that post since the 1970s. Sent to the countryside for “re-education” during the Cultural Revolution, Dr. Chen learned medicine on his own for two years. He was a “barefoot doctor” practicing many of the traditional Chinese therapies. Recognized for his medical work by the local rural population, Dr. Chen was selected to attend medical school at Shangrao Health School Jiangxi. He later received his Master’s degree from the Shanghai Second Medical University and his Doctorate from the University of Paris VII.
The Szent-Györgyi Prize includes a $25,000 honorarium. An official ceremony will be held on March 6, 2012 in New York City to award the Prize to Dr. Wang and Dr. Chen.
“Drs. Wang and Chen have quite literally changed the face of medicine for those patients suffering from APL. Their combined work has saved millions of lives around the world both today and for future generations,” said Dr. Beatrice Mintz, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Chair of the 7th Selection Committee of Szent-Györgyi Prize and winner of the 6th Annual Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Prize. “I cannot imagine a better testament to the outcomes of investing in cancer research than what these two distinguished scientists have achieved.”
“In keeping with the spirit of nonconformity that NFCR founder Albert Szent-Györgyi is known for, the selection of Drs. Wang and Chen has a significant meaning to those who work in the trenches of cancer research each day,” said Sujuan Ba, Ph.D., Co-Chair of the Szent-Györgyi Prize Selection Committee and Chief Operating Officer of NFCR. “True scientific discovery comes from ideas and basic research. These two scientists are inspirational as they both have dedicated their lives to this work that will impact the world for generations to come.”
“I am so glad to see that the efforts we have devoted to research on Leukemia these last several decades have led to solid clinical benefits to APL patients around world. We will continue our efforts in finding more effective therapies to treat cancers,” said Dr. Wang.
“It is quite humbling to know that our colleagues across the various scientific disciplines selected us. We know there are thousands of scientists worldwide working every day to cure cancer. I hope our work may continue to inspire others,” said Dr. Chen. “This is a great honor for Dr. Wang and me.”
Disclosure: none.
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