Chemistry and the war against cancer

NERM June 2 - 5, 2010 POTSDAM
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Humankind has suffered the ravages of cancer for thousands of years, with no end in sight. That is, until the beginning of the 20th Century, when the principles of the scientific method were seriously and rigorously applied to discovering the cause(s), diagnosis, treatment, and more recently even the prevention and eradication of this devastating disease. The important role that chemistry has played, and is playing, in achieving these goals cannot be overemphasized. The objective of this symposium is to celebrate the role of chemistry in the fight against cancer, and to bring together several professionals who have contributed significantly to this effort.

Specific topics to be discussed will include chemical carcinogenesis, an account of the chemistry involved in devising the first blood test for the detection of cancer, radio-imaging techniques for cancer developed by a SUNY-Potsdam Chemistry alumnus, development of the first vaccine to prevent cancer, and an account of a chemical that effectively prevents breast cancer. It might be of interest to note that the majority of the chemists involved in making these advances are all members of the NERM Region of the American Chemical Society.

Session organizer

Dr. Vinay Likhite is the director of the Cancer Research Center, Plattsburgh, NY, and the founder & president of the Champlain Valley Immunology Foundation, Inc. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from McGill University, and he is a Fellow of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. His work focuses on the study of breast tumors in mice.

Confirmed speakers

Dr. Likhite

Dr. Vinay Likhite will give a presentation titled “Of Mice And Women: The Race To Eradicate Breast Cancer”.

Dr. Bonnez

Prof. W. Bonnez

Keynote speaker

Prof. William Bonnez, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, will give a presentation titled “A Story of Microbes, Cancer, and Vaccine - The Genital Human Papillomaviruses”.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are a large group of ubiquitous viruses that cause infections that can be silent, but also may lead to the formation of tumors like warts or cancers. Cancer of the uterine cervix, the second most common cancer in women worldwide is the best example of a cancer almost exclusively caused by an HPV infection. This is not the only example, as a majority of cancers of the anus, vagina, vulva, penis, and oropharynx are also caused by an HPV infection. This tight causal link and now the availability of a very effective HPV vaccine should lead to a reduction in the frequency of these cancers and precursors. The presentation will describe the biology of HPVs, their relationship to diseases, and how a vaccine came about, from the observations that led to its concept, the genetic engineering tools that made its manufacturing possible, to the clinical trials that established its efficacy and safety.

Program

Friday, June 4, 1:30 PM - 3:05 PM

Chemistry and the War Against Cancer

Kellas 104

Organizer/Presider: Vinay Likhite

1:30 Introductory Remarks

Keynote Lecture

1:35 343 Story of Microbes, Cancer, and Vaccine – The Genital Human Papillomaviruses. William Bonnez, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry

2:25 Intermission

2:35 344 Of Mice and Women: The Race To Eradicate Breast Cancer. Vinay Likhite, Baroda Cancer Research Center