The Cell-Kill Paradigm: Bleak Outcomes

Abstract

What has the cell-kill paradigm and its dominance of cancer research, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome assessment achieved in the context of the “War on Cancer” since the enactment of the National Cancer Act of 1971? The answer will vary depending on how achievement is measured and who does the assessment. For example, in a 1996 review article titled The war on cancer [505] marking the 25th birthday of the National Cancer Act of 1971, the author used a quote from Charles Dickens to dramatize its failure: “Dead, your Majesty. Dead, my lords and gentlemen. Dead, right reverends and wrong reverends of every order. Dead, men and women, born with Heavenly compassion in your hearts. And dying thus around us every day”. Less than a year later, an editorial written by a former Director of the NCI rejoiced “Happy birthday ‘War’, you deserve a pat on the back” [506]. Both authors converged on crediting major scientific advances made during this period, especially the breathtaking advances in molecular biology and molecular genetics, including the genome project, that have revolutionized our knowledge about cancer. Yet, while both see a brighter future after these advances are applied to the practice of medicine, the former author concluded, “We must develop new approaches to control this plague of deaths, adopting an ethic of prevention ….to prevent disease before it becomes invasive and metastatic” [507].

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

– Albert Einstein