The Virus Cancer Program had its roots in 1964 when Congress provided funds to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for intensive research into the possible role of viruses in leukemia. In 1968 the Program, then titled the Special Virus-Cancer Program, was enlarged to encompass all types of cancer. On July 1, 1973 the Special Virus Cancer Program was renamed The Virus-Cancer Program (VCP) to integrate the Programs research activities into the framework of the new National Cancer Plan. The Program combined the talents of many of the nations finest virologists, biochemists, immunologists, molecular biologists, epidemiologists, and physicians, in an attempt to uncover the viral cause of cancer. Two classes of cancer-causing viruses were studied extensively: the RNA-type tumor retroviruses (like HIV) and the DNA herpes-type viruses (like the KS virus). The main goals were to collect various forms of cancer tissue and test them in animals; to identify animal and human cancer-causing viruses; to grow large amounts of candidate human viruses for testing purposes; and to develop vaccines against these cancer viruses. In essence, the scientists wanted to learn how to use viruses to make cancer - and to force normal cells to become cancerous by subjecting to viruses.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 06:53:49 +0000
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