[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M.D. ANDERSON 
                             CANCER CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2001

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the University of 
Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center on its 60th Anniversary on June 30, 
2001. Although I will not be present at this Ceremony, I would like to 
honor this distinguished institution which is one of the world's top 
tier of institutions devoted to the conquest of cancer.
  Throughout its history, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center has set the 
standard for excellence in cancer patient care, research, education and 
prevention. Named for its benefactor, Monroe Dunaway Anderson, the 
hospital was designated one of the first three comprehensive cancer 
centers in the United States by the National Cancer Act of 1971, and 
has continued to be the model of other centers seeking such 
recognition. In 2000, M.D. Anderson was ranked by U.S. News & World 
Report magazine as the nation's best cancer hospital.
  Since the first patient was registered in temporary quarters in 1944, 
nearly 500,000 people have been served at M.D. Anderson facilities in 
Houston, and patients everywhere have benefited from research-based 
discoveries made or inspired by the M.D. Anderson faculty and staff.
  More than 40,000 physicians, scientists, nurses and health care 
professionals have trained at M.D. Anderson, where education is fully 
integrated with superb research, compassionate patient care and far-
reaching cancer prevention programs.
  Today, M.D. Anderson's public education and community service 
initiatives help thousands of people reduce their risk of cancer and 
learn more about the disease.
  The outstanding basic, translational and clinical research conducted 
at M.D. Anderson has been supported in recent years with the highest 
number of grants awarded to any institution by the National Cancer 
Institute and the American Cancer Society.
  Translational research that applies new laboratory findings to 
improve patient treatments as quickly as possible has flourished under 
the leadership of Dr. John Mendelsohn, a distinguished clinical 
scientist who became M. D. Anderson's President in 1996. Dr. Mendelsohn 
has recruited a visionary management team and established bold new 
priorities for M. D. Anderson in the 21st century.
  Dr. John Mendelsohn is the third president of the institution. Dr. R. 
Lee Clark was named the first full-time director and surgeon-in-chief 
in 1946, two years after the first patient was admitted. Dr. Clark was 
succeeded by Dr. Charles A. LeMaistre, who was instrumental in 
recruiting many leading physicians and surgeons. Dr. Mendelsohn took 
over in 1996 after Dr. LeMaistre's retirement.
  Since celebrating its 50th anniversary a decade ago, the major 
research accomplishments made by M.D. Anderson scientists and 
physicians include: The first successful correction of a defective p53 
tumor suppressor gene in human lung cancer has led to pioneering gene 
therapy for lung, head and neck, prostate, bladder and several other 
forms of cancer; Identification of the defective PTEN gene is providing 
new ways to target therapy for a usually fatal form of brain cancer and 
other malignant tumors; Expanded landmark chemoprevention studies 
showing that drugs can prevent first or second primary cancers in 
individuals at high risk--and also reverse some pre-malignant lesions; 
Designed a rapid laboratory method to pinpoint gene abnormalities in 
chromosomes, thereby improving diagnosis and treatment monitoring of 
many diseases, including cancer; Developed a gene expression technique 
to predict which cancers will escape primary sites and spread to other 
organs of the body; Identified genetic variants of components for a 
common brain chemical, dopamine, that are associated with nicotine 
addiction; Reported the first separation of human malignant cells from 
normal blood cells with a technique that allows studying the intrinsic 
electrical properties of cells; Documented a molecular link between 
cigarettes and lung cancer from studies showing a carcinogen in tobacco 
smoke binds to key mutagenic sites in the p53 gene.
  Over the years, M.D. Anderson has conducted extensive clinical trials 
that have led to more effective anti-cancer drugs and biologic 
compounds, less-invasive surgical procedures and more precise radiation 
techniques. Many standard cancer therapies now available around the 
world were originally evaluated, wholly or in part, through such 
clinical research studies at M.D. Anderson.
  Research discoveries and inventions by M.D. Anderson faculty and 
staff have been responsible for important technology development 
partnerships with industry. Fifteen company have been created as 
spinoffs from M.D. Anderson research projects.
  While research advances at M.D. Anderson over the past 60 years have 
helped turn the tide against cancer, the current outlook for better 
methods to diagnose, treat and, ultimately, prevent cancer is even more 
optimistic because of emerging knowledge about the molecular defects 
responsible for the disease. Last month, we learned that a clinical 
trial at M.D. Anderson was part of the landmark study which discovered 
a new treatment for a rare form of leukemia. This new drug therapy 
actually works to reduce the replication of cancer cells so that 
patients can recover. I am proud that much of this initial work was 
done by M.D. Anderson clinicians and their staffs.
  Mr. Speaker, today I recognize with profound gratitude all of the 
accomplishments made at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer 
Center. And, I warmly congratulate the dedicated faculty, staff, 
volunteers and supporters on the occasion of this remarkable 
institution's 60th anniversary.

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