'~ Vol. LV., No. 13 GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON. D C Fz:iday. December 10, 1971 GU Med Center Research Team Discovers Human Cancer 'Virus by Bernadette Savard microscope and no virus was found cause human cancer and has been News Editor to be visible at that time. working on the present study since Georgetown University Professor After the culture had been June, 1970, supported by the of Pathology Dr. Sarah Stewart and growing 17 months, Dr. Stewart Special Virus Cancel' Program of her colleagues have announced the placed the cells in a medium the National Cancer Institute. discovery of a virus in the cells of a containing 5-IUDR, a chemical Collaborators with Dr. Stewart human sarcoma (a malignant tumor recently used by other investigators in this project are George Kasnic, of connective tissue) which they to activate an RNA cancer virus in Catherine Draycott, William Feller, hope to prove is a human cancer­ mouse tissue. The virus was activat­ M.D. and Abner Golden, M.D. of causing virus. ed and readily identified by elec­ Georgetown University and Elisa­ "We now have the tools to do tron microscope. beth Mitchell and Theresa Ben of the studies necessary for substantial Not only was the virus seen in the National Cancer Institute. proof of the cancer-virus theory in the primary human tumor as well as Articles about Dr. Stewart's humans," said Dr. Stewart. in the cell line after its activation in work at Georgetown and about the Dr. Stewart's announcement fol­ the culture, but the virus was found studies at the University of South­ lows a similar announcement by a to form differently than ordinary ern California have appeared in team of researchers at the Univer­ mouse and cat sarcoma viruses recent editions of the New York sity of Southern California School adding further credence to the Times, the Evening Star and the Georgetown University Professor of Pathology Dr_ Sarah Stewart of Medicine and the Los Angeles theory that this virus is indeed a Washington Posl. Dr. Stewart is displays an electron microscope photograph of a culture of a malignant Children's Memorial Hospital that a human cancer-causing one. scheduled to appear on NBC-TV's tumor containing what she believes to be a human cancer virus. Dr_ virus was isolated and proven to be Today program next week, William Feller (left) is a collaborator in the study_ a human cancer-causing virus. Ac­ In order to offer substantial cording to Dr. Stewart, there is a proof of the link between the virus "big difference" between her find­ and human cancer, Dr. Stewart now Cochetti Nominees Present ings and those of the USC team. proposes to grow large quantities of A "very significant" difference the virus in the chemically-treated between the two discoveries is that cells of her culture. The virus will Georgetown's researchers studied a be purified and used for intensive Rueckel Meets Task Force virus which was observed in the investigation, including injecting primary tumor taken directly from the virus into monkeys and inocu­ by Bob Hayes '72). While all three participated in Louis, chairman of the student the patient. USC's .virus was not lating normal human cells in culture Georgetown's task force on the yesterday's committee meeting, activities committee, is looking for observed in the primary tumor and to see if the virus will cause malig­ quality of student life held its final their appointments await final con­ the active participation of the stu­ was only observed after passage nant tumors and malignant cells. planning meeting yesterday marked firmation by the student senate, den t body in his committee into a cat. If these effects occur, "We'll be by the attendance of the newly expected Sunday evening. meetings_ "I don't want my com­ In the Georgetown study, tissue sitting on top of the world," said appointed representatives of stu­ Smith, an early agitator in the mittee to be able to breathe with­ from the primary tumor was placed Dr. Stewart. dent government. formation of the task force, sees out someone telling us just what into culture at the same time as Dr. Stewart is an internationally The three and one-half hour "too much to be gained by the they think," he commented. similar tissue was given to an recognized pioneer and authority in meeting saw Dr. Patricia Rueckel, committee" for student govern­ Fr. Canavan will propose to the electron microscopist for examina­ cancer virology _ Since the early vice president for student develop­ ment to sit on the sidelines. University's Board of Directors that tion. After two months, the tissue 1950's, she has been interested in ment and her staff explain, in the "There's a lot of potential in the the deadline for task force recom­ culture was reexamined by electron the possibility that viruses may words of task force chairman, the group," he said. "If personal opin­ mendations be set just prior to Rev. Francis Canavan, S J , "exact­ ions and preconceived notions are Easter recess. "This is quite feasible ly what and how student develop­ kept in the background, the task if we can avoid the endless ment operates." force can do some valuable work." wrangling with defining terms," he Dr. Rueckel focused on the Fr. Henle appcintee Conan Louis said. President Names Three problems facing Georgetown, in­ (SLL '73) is dissatisfied with the cluding housing, medical health and frame of mind of some of the task athletics. Underlying the difficulties force members. "I just sit there and To Dean Search Com.m. facing the Student Development can tell by what they say that their Senate., Board by Ken Koenig pl'essed pleasure over the student Office is the lack of definition for minds are already made up on an The Rev. R. J. Henle, SJ, representation on the search com­ the student-institution relationship. issue. " Disagree On University President, announced mittee. The drawn-out controversy be­ Louis stressed that Task Force the composition of the decanal Named to the SBA committee tween the Rev. R.J. Henle, SJ, Chairman Fr. Canavan is a man search committees for the Graduate were Joseph LeMoine and Dr. University President and Roger "who is very difficult to change his Referendum School and the School of Business Francis P. Sing of the school Cochetti, president of the under­ mind." Administration last week. faculty, Dr. Thomas Walsh of the graduate student government, The work of the task force is A major schism developed be· The announcement named Dr. English Department, Dr. Stanislaw ended Wednesday with the appoint­ now being turned over to the four tween the student senate and the Richard Predmore, former Dean of Wasowski of the Economics Depart­ ment by Cochetti of three repre­ committees to study particular as­ University residence board Wednes­ Duke University Graduate School ment and students Peter Dugan sentatives from student govern­ pects of University life. Fr. Canavan day night when board members hopes that the committees will of Arts and S~iences chairman of (SBA'72) and Kevin Harren ment. tabled action on the issue of the committee for the Graduate (SBA'73). According to the an­ The three appointees are Steve meet at least once before Christmas dormitory self·determination until School and Dr. Othmar Winkler nouncement, the SBA committee Smith (ColI. '73), Cliff Librach to narrow down and specify objec­ January. chairman of the committee for the will begin work immediately. (ColI. '73) and Leslie Miller (ColI. tives. The board had voted last week business school. to reject the senate wording of a Others appointed to the Gradu­ "When the Dust Cleared .. " referendum planned on the self· ate SChool committee included determination question. The senate Pharmacology Department Chair­ version would have asked the man Dr. Frank G. Standaert, student body to agree with either Associate Professor of History Dr. WGTB Resumes Daily Broadcasting the position that dormitory self· determination was "a privilege John Reudy, Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Michael Pope, Pro- by Larry Peters wrong" with WGTB operations or were former and present staff conferred by the administration" or fessor of Government and former WGTB returned to the air management and ordered that a workers who were "qualified" to "a right of the individuals who Dean of the Graduate School the Tuesday, Dec. 7 some nine months referendum be held to finally "get vote. Qualifications were approved comprise the dormitory." Rev. Gerard F. Yates, SJ and after its antenna was blown over rid of all the accusations and by the review board and of the The senate decision to conduct a graduate stUdents Stuart B. Hardy from the roof of Copley Hall. falsifications" made against approximately 20 people present, referendum centers on the issue of and Susan Riley. Pending the results of a. revi~w WGTB's directors during the com­ 17 were approved. Only three of parietal hours. Several senators feel the 17 voted for new elections of Outgoing Graduate School Dean committee formed by Umverslty mittee's hearings. that parietals should be set by the directors. Program Director J. Gar­ Rocco E. Porreco said that the idea President the Rev. R.J. Henle, SJ in Voters at the Dec. 1 referendum house councils, not by the Adminis­ vin Walsh, Chief Engineer Mike behind the appointment of Dr. July, the station did not resume tration. McKernan and Chowka are "now Pred.more was to get someone from broadcasting this semester. The The University residence board ?\ltslde Georgetown University who committee released its report Sept. legitimized" and "have full auth­ agreed with a statement issued by ority" to operate WGTB according ,IDs familiar with graduate studies.