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In spite of many attempts to modify the filtrate reaction of Brdicka's cancer test, none of them gave better results than the original one. We already reported that in patients with acute leukemia the first maximum of Brdicka's filtrate wave was often higher than the second maximum. Such phenomenon presumably depends on the high contents of polysaccharides in molecules of these blood mucoproteins. In this paper further efforts were made to clarify the factors influencing on the shape of the protein double wave, and to find out the polarographic characteristics and clinical significance of electrophoretically separated mucoprotein with special reference to the wave form. Among many experimental conditions, the temperature in polarographic cells was found to be most sensitive factor to affect the protein wave shape, so that all experiments were carried out at the constant temperature (20°C±0.05). Serum mucoprotein was evidently separated into two fractions, M1 fraction an M2 fraction, by paper electroyhoresis in McIlvaine's buffer of pH 4, 4. These two fractions showed polarographically different shape each other. The M1 fraction, the most rapidly anodic moving one, showed left side elevation in shape; in other words, the first maximum was higher than the second maximum. On the contraly, M2 fraction showed right side elevation in shape; the second maximum was higher than the first maximum. Furthermore, it was very interesting from clinical point of view that the characteristic shape of M1 fraction was to some extent variable depending on diseases. From the clinical observation on 259 cases including 119 cases of cancer and 11 cases of leukemia, it was revealed that in neoplastic patients the wave shape of M1 fraction showed clearcut difference from those in normal; Δh (distance from the second maximum to the first maximum) of M1 fraction in neoplastic patients was larger than that in normal. Thus, the cancer detection rate has markedly elevated as compared with the original filtrate test, namely from 77% to 90%o in our study.

THIS paper presents a method for the estimation of individual urinary estrogens involving enzymatic hydrolysis of conjugates, ether extraction, paper chromatographic separation and purification of estrone, estradiol-3,17β, estriol and l6-epiestriol and finally quantitative estimation of these compounds by bioassay. The method is suitable for the measurement of very small amounts of urinary estrogens such as are excreted in the urine of patients with mammary cancer. The specificity and sensitivity of estrogen bioassay will be examined in this communication. Estrogens are known to be significantly involved in the genesis of mammary neoplasms in animals (1) and these ovarian hormones are sustaining factors of human breast cancer (2). A study of estrogen excretion and metabolism in women with breast cancer may further advance our understanding of the endocrine factors in the growth of these neoplasms and the mechanism of regression of some mammary cancers following endocrine ablative surgery.

INTRODUCTION Nur wer die Wissenschaft und Kunst der Ver, oangenheit tind Gegenwart genau kennt, wird ihre Fortschritte init Bewusstsein fordern.—BALLROTH. In these days of world-wide political and economic turmoil, when it is commonly said that the decline of the Western world is evident on all sides, it is interesting to make an historical survey of man9s accomplishments in a single field of natural science such as that treating of cancer. This is as good a ground as one could want for meeting Spengler9s challenge to Western science. In tracing the evolution of the knowledge of cancer we hope to demonstrate that the knowledge of the disease has shown an irregular but progressive growth since early historical times, that this growth has been continued in Western civilization, and that during the past two centuries it has increased enormously. A point has indeed been reached where the available knowledge concerning the disease is so extensive that it requires the full time of the physician to encompass it, with the result that a new medical specialty devoted to the investigation and treatment of cancer is being created. The facile statement that nothing is known about cancer is too often heard. Although the ultimate cause of the disease remains hidden, man has learned to classify it with precision and to cure it by means of a highly refined technic in an appreciable percentage of cases. This is certainly a great advance beyond the “hands off” attitude of the ancient physician, who in fact called cancer noli me tangere.

The following analysis was performed to investigate which, at the moment, are the main centers of cancer research from the international point of view. The criterion was the number of contributions to research papers in five leading cancer journals which are considered to have a high standard. The research reports in these five journals originated from many countries and can be regarded as being international. According to the results, USA is the leading country contributing with 70% of all the papers published in the five journals. However, it has to be noted that three of the five investigated journals are published in the USA. The countries which followed were England, Canada, France, Japan and Sweden, which together contributed 16% of the papers. The remaining 14% of the papers originated from 58 other countries.

The methods of therapy of skin cancer depend to a great extent upon two main factors: the skill of the operator and the type of lesion. One may choose whatever method one has in full command. The best may sometimes be a combination of methods. Both dermatologic and surgical judgment should be used. The points concerning the second factor, namely the lesion, are its characteristics such as: size, location, type, previous therapy, age, sex, physical condition and life expectancy of the patient. Another point to consider is whether the method of choice will be applied in the office or in the hospital.

Publisher Summary This chapter elaborates the potentials for immunologic intervention in cancer. Several findings in tumor immunology strongly suggest that practical methods will be forthcoming to permit the detection and measurement of tumor antigens in human cancer patients. Tumor-specific immunity, both cell mediated and that based upon humoral antibodies can be assessed in vitro on an experimental basis. With the exception of the fluorescent antibody techniques and perhaps, one or two complement fixation methods, all of these tests depend upon tissue culture-derived tumor specimens. The in vitro management of such cells mixed with antibody, putatively immune cells or both, involves techniques which are difficult from the technical point of view and based upon the assessment of effects which are rarely all or none. It has been emphasized that the central problem in tumor immunotherapy is not that of inducing the patient to become immune to products of his tumor but rather to make existing, demonstrable immunity more effective in controlling tumor growth.

In presenting this paper I desire to avoid all controversial questions as to the justifiability of vaginal extirpation of the uterus for cancer, but I shall proceed upon the presumption that, by a consensus of advanced professional opinion, it is looked upon as a fixed operation in surgical practice. It shall be my future purpose to discuss some clinical features of the cases requiring this operation, and to call attention to some features of technique. My observations are based upon an experience in eleven cases—nine recoveries and two deaths—but one of which can justly be called primary. The first case was operated upon Nov. 27, 1887, the last, April 28, 1890. There has been recurrence but in two cases; one that of a woman 48, who was operated upon Jan. 11, 1888, after six teen months' previous duration of the disease, had recurrence after twenty months; the other, that of

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TWENTY-SEVEN authors contribute to this symposium, which will be welcomed by all who have to deal with any aspect of cancer. The papers, some of which are highly technical, are reprinted from many journals and form four main groups: three of general clinical interest; four on radiation therapy; eight on calculations and physical measurements of radiation; eighteen on experimental research, and a review of the world literature 1938–1939 on chemical compounds as carcinogenic agents. The latter paper, by Profs. Cook and Kennaway, follows an earlier review on the same subject and is a masterly piece of work, including a bibliography of some five hundred new references. About half the volume is concerned with the synthesis and testing of chemical carcinogens and growth inhibitors. It is not yet certain that any of these substances are directly related to human cancer other than industrial cancer. A careful perusal of the results shows that many new facts could not have been established by studying only the earliest and best-known carcinogenic hydrocarbons. To the reviewer, the most interesting new experiments are those dealing with growth-inhibiting hydrocarbons that are not necessarily carcinogenic; with carcinogens that act on remote organs as well as locally; with those that show the need for more than one kind of biological test before a substance can be regarded as non-carcinogenic; and, particularly, with the extraction from human livers (not necessarily from cancer subjects) of unidentified carcinogens. Selected Papers from the Royal Cancer Hospital (Free) and the Chester Beatty Research Institute Published by order of the Governors of the Royal Cancer Hospital (Free), London. Vol. 2. Pp. viii + 414. (London: Royal Cancer Hospital (Free), 1943.) 16s.