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cation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Janet Davison Rowley In a landmark paper in 1973, Janet described the identification of the 9;22 1925–2013 translocation (Philadelphia chromosome) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Subsequently, she identified more than Dr. Janet Rowley was internationally of pathology at the University of Chicago, a dozen different recurring translocations renowned for her studies of chromosome and after his early retirement, he was in children and adults with leukemia and abnormalities in human leukemia and totally dedicated to supporting Janet’s lymphoma. These discoveries changed lymphoma. We adored her closer to career. The two traveled the world the view of cancer researchers regarding home as a University of Chicago lifer and together, but they always found time for the critical importance of recurring chro- a treasured member of our great Hyde the extended family in Hyde Park. They mosome abnormalities in cancer cells Park/Kenwood community. A woman opened up their home to generations and facilitated identification of novel of tremendous grace and beauty, she of students, faculty, and staff at the oncogenes at the breakpoint junctions. distinguished herself not only for her University of Chicago who enjoyed holi- In fact, it is reasonable to say that her historic scientific discoveries but also day celebrations and summer parties at early discoveries galvanized the scien- with her sustained efforts to support the the Rowleys’. Generations have formed tific community in support of the Human careers of others, including myself. As memories around their giant Christmas Genome Project and influenced a whole we mark her passing, our hearts are heavy tree, which stretched to the second floor generation of cancer geneticists like because she will be sorely missed. of their lovely home. Janet and Donald myself who came of age in the golden Janet Davison Rowley was born in formed a partnership for the ages—the era of cytogenetics. New York City on April 5, 1925, the only two of them seamlessly integrated family I remember my first meeting with child of Hurford and Ethel Davison, both life with work life and supported each Janet in 1988. In her understated way, graduates of the University of Chicago. other until the very end. she advised me to learn a ‘‘skill’’ and The family moved to Chicago when she Janet often spoke against the intense apply it to important scientific questions. was 2 years old, and Janet always fondly pressure to have early success as a Janet demonstrated the importance remembered growing up on the south scientist. It was not until her husband’s of collaboration to accomplish greater side of Chicago. Her father taught retail sabbatical at Oxford University in 1962 scientific goals. Her skill was chromo- store management at the college level, that Janet’s interest in chromosomes some banding, but the future was and her mother taught English in the and cancer gained focus, and she in molecular genetics—so she shared public high schools. In 1940, after 2 years learned the laboratory techniques that her samples with other scientists to at a Catholic girls’ high school, Janet, age she would later use to change the scope advance her science. Each sample was 15, won a scholarship to enroll in the of cancer diagnosis and treatment. She carefully annotated as Janet worked Hutchins College at the University of made her first major discovery at age with a multidisciplinary team, including Chicago, which combined the last 2 years 47, when she identified the first consis- James Vardiman, a hematopathologist, of high school with the first 2 years of tent chromosome translocation in any and Harvey Golomb, a medical oncolo- college. She completed a bachelor of human cancer, namely the 8;21 translo- gist, and numerous colleagues at the philosophy degree in 1944 University of Chicago—long and was accepted into the before ‘‘team science’’ be- University’s medical school, came fashionable. but the quota—three women A series of International for a class of 65—was already Workshops on Chromosomes filled. ‘‘I had to wait 9 months,’’ in Leukemia provided critical she said in an interview. ‘‘I was information regarding the only 19 at the time, so it wasn’t phenotypes associated with a great tragedy.’’ specific translocations in large Janet fell madly in love with numbers of patients and fellow medical student Donald showed that recurring chro- Rowley, MD, and the two were mosomal abnormalities were married the day after she grad- independent predictors of uated from medical school response to therapy in AML on December 18, 1948. Janet and acute lymphoblastic would spend the next 20 years leukemia (ALL). This led to raising their four sons while ‘‘risk-adapted’’ therapy for working part-time, including adult and childhood leukemia. at a Chicago clinic for children She described several impor- with Down syndrome. Donald tant translocations and/or in- became a renowned professor Janet Rowley versions, including the 15;17

390 Cell 156, January 30, 2014 ª2014 Elsevier Inc. translocation in acute promyelocytic members championing the need for a confidence that I was right to have chosen leukemia (APL-M3), the 6;9 translocation strong national program supporting to study solid tumor genetics as a way in AML, the inversion and translocation responsible human embryonic stem cell to differentiate from her. She educated involving chromosome 3 [inv(3)/t(3;3)] in research. Her patience and wisdom the clinical oncology community on the AML associated with increased platelet allowed the committee to survive intact importance of our scientific discoveries, counts, the inversion and translocation for 8 years before President Obama focusing attention on the way that genetic involving chromosome 16 [inv(16)/ signed an executive order permitting alterations provide clues to the process t(16;16)] in acute myelomonocytic leuke- stem cell research in 2009. With her of malignant transformation of cancer. mia with abnormal eosinophils (AMMoL- long-term scientific partner and friend From that moment, Janet created a path M4EO), and the 14;18 translocation in Felix Mitelman, she cofounded and was for me to integrate genetics into clinical follicular lymphoma. Although it is now coeditor of Genes, Chromosomes and oncology care. widely accepted that genomic analysis Cancer, the premier cancer cytogenetics Janet continued to direct an active and plays a critical role in the diagnosis, sub- journal worldwide. She also served on productive laboratory until her death. I classification, and selection of therapy scientific and public boards. Through marveled as she rode her bike to work for patients with cancer, Janet, sitting these activities, Janet provided enormous every day and, when she could no longer behind her microscope, was ahead of opportunities for her mentees and pro- do so, asked for the laboratory to come the curve. moted the careers of others. to her home. Janet was restless, ambi- Janet’s research had a profound Janet was the recipient of the National tious, and kind—her son describe her impact on patient care. Her early work Medal of Science (1998), the Albert as a ‘‘bag’’ lady who picked up leaves on Philadelphia chromosome in CML Lasker Clinical Medicine Research Prize around the neighborhood. She was an culminated in the most successful (1998), the Benjamin Franklin Medal from avid gardener and a phenomenal athlete example of targeted therapy and provided the American Philosophical Society who climbed mountains and swam on a new paradigm for using molecular (2003), the Gruber Prize in Genetics Lake Michigan most summer days. diagnosis to define therapy in oncology. (2009), and the Presidential Medal of She enjoyed the opera and traveled to Patients with newly diagnosed CML any- Freedom (2009). The Medal of Freedom exotic corners of the world. Janet was where in the world can now expect to recognizes ‘‘an especially meritorious a devoted mother and grandmother who live the course of a normal life on therapy. contribution to the security or national always took the time to handwrite her Janet epitomized the ‘‘bedside to bench’’ interests of the United States, world Christmas cards long after the holidays philosophy, as observations in the clinic peace, cultural, or other significant public in January. She was a pillar in our com- led her to questions in the laboratory. or private endeavors.’’ munity, a most beloved mentor, and Throughout her illustrious career, Janet Janet was clearly one of the true pio- a scientific mother who will be terribly was a stubborn advocate for science. neers of our time, not least in her fearless missed. She was a leader on campus, and many career as a woman in science at a time deans and presidents at the University when few were admitted to medical Olufunmilayo I. Olopade1,* of Chicago frequently heard from her as school. One of my fondest memories of 1Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics & she fought for resources to support Janet was when she stood up to ask me Global Health, The University of Chicago, research. Janet provided leadership to a question after my plenary presentation 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 2115, the field and fostered public understand- at the American Society of Clinical Chicago, IL 60637, USA ing of science. She served as a member Oncology (ASCO) in 1991. She was not a *Correspondence: [email protected]. of The President’s Council on Bioethics, member of ASCO, but her presence in uchicago.edu where she was one of the most effective the large audience gave me absolute http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2014.01.015

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