Description
Book SynopsisThe Understanding, Prevention and Control of Human Cancer is an account of how a married couple opened understanding of environmental carcinogenesis. Elizabeth Cavert and James A. Miller showed that enzymes of the human body activate and enable otherwise benign organic chemicals to combine with DNA in such a manner that cancer results. Their work is of particular note because cancer causes more loss of life-years than the sum of all other causes of death—and, as the President’s (USA) Cancer Panel warned, environmental carcinogenesis is a form of cancer that has been previously “grossly underestimated”. The Millers’ cancer research led to tests that identify dangerous chemicals which in turn permits prevention and thus the control of human cancer.
Trade Review"A seminal paper authored in 1947 by Elizabeth C. Miller (1920–87) and James A. Miller (1915–2000) provided the first clue to an underlying common mechanism for the biological activities of chemical carcinogens. […] Robert G. McKinnell has recently published an excellent biography of James and Elizabeth Miller, motivated in part by his desire ‘that the Millers should be recognized by the myriads of ordinary people whose lives have been impacted for the better.’" - Norman Drinkwater, University of Wisconsin-Madison, in: Medical History 61.1 (January 2017)
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements xi Also by Robert G. McKinnell xiv In Appreciation xv List of Figures xvi 1. Cancer is the Most Important Disease of the 21st Century: A Reality Most Fail to Comprehend 1 That Reality is Why I Wrote This Book 1 Person Years of Life Lost 1 New Cases and Deaths 3 Chemical Carcinogenesis 3 Elizabeth C. and James A. Miller 5 A Lack of Recognition 7 Who Does Cancer Research? 9 Glazed Eyes Not Permitted 10 2. Cancer for Novices: An Introduction 12 Cancer Defined Sans Torture 12 The Antiquity of Malignancy 14 Metastasis 17 Chemotherapy 19 Radiation, Viruses, Bacteria, Heredity and/or Possibly “Bad Luck” 20 Factors that Give Rise to Cancer: Environment 23 Animal Experimentation 31 Chemical Structure of Carcinogens 35 Carcinogenesis is a Multistep Process 37 Concluding Remarks 39 3. The Millers and Chemical Carcinogenesis 41 Carcinogens and Metabolism 41 Occam’s (Ockham) Sharp Razor 46 Cancer-Causing Dyes 48 Can Chemical Structure Predict Carcinogenicity? 55 Metabolic Studies of Other Chemicals 56 A Synopsis of Metabolic Activation 59 The Essential Material of Chemical Carcinogenesis 60 Metabolic Activation Requires Enzymes—What Enzymes? 61 The Paradox of Cancer-Causing Enzymes in Normal Humans 64 Direct Acting Chemical Carcinogens 67 Proto-Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes 68 The Significance of the Millers’ Research 69 The Quest Continues 70 4. Serendipity: How the Millers Unintentionally Revolutionized Biology 71 A Note about Basic Research 71 Test Systems for Mutagens and Carcinogens 73 Person to Person Differences in Sensitivity to Environmental Carcinogens 78 Molecular Epidemiology: Formation of Macromolecular Adducts as Indicators of Cancer Risk 81 Laws Regulating Carcinogens 82 Teratogenesis and Drug Metabolism are Related to Metabolic Activation 83 5. The Family Origins of Elizabeth Cavert Miller: New York, Ireland and Scotland 85 Charlton, New York 86 An Early Cavert 87 Elizabeth’s Heritage Includes a Castle in Scotland 89 Elizabeth Cavert’s Father 91 Elizabeth Cavert’s Mother 97 6 More about Elizabeth 99 Elizabeth as a Child Lived in Saint Paul, Minnesota 99 Elizabeth’s Siblings 100 Early Years 104 Anoka, Minnesota 105 Summers at Fort Plain, New York 109 Winters in Anoka, Minnesota 110 Springfield, South Dakota 111 Elizabeth Cavert’s Father Taught His Children about Agriculture 112 Return to Saint Paul and the University of Minnesota 113 Two of Elizabeth’s Professors 115 Elizabeth as an Undergraduate in 1937 117 Graduate School, Biochemistry and Home Economics 119 7. James Alexander Miller—How He Became the Other Strand of the Miller Double Helix 123 James’ Birth and Growing Up 124 University of Pittsburgh 128 James A. Miller at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 130 Carl August Baumann: Chemist, Hero and Major Professor 132 James Meets Elizabeth 135 The Wedding 137 They Became Like the Two Strands of DNA 137 James’ Ph.D. Research 139 Elizabeth’s Ph.D. Research 140 James and Elizabeth at the McArdle 143 8. Elizabeth and James, Beyond the Lab 146 Like the Two Strands of DNA—But with Differences 146 “They Seemed Normal to Us” 146 Elizabeth and James’ Daughters 148 Elizabeth Cavert Miller as “Mom” 149 The Millers at Home 150 The Millers Away from Home 155 Was Elizabeth a Feminist? 157 James A. Miller from His Daughters’ View 159 Family Gatherings in Madison 161 Trips to Minnesota 161 Trips to Other Places 163 Higher Education for Linda and Helen 166 An Observant Grandmother 167 Elizabeth’s Terminal Illness 167 Barbara Butler Miller 168 Jim’s Last Illnesses 172 Appendices: 1. Awards, Honors and Professional Activities: Elizabeth Cavert Miller (ECM) and James Alexander Miller (JAM), Individually or Jointly 175 2. Scientific Publications of Elizabeth Cavert Miller and James Alexander Miller 179 3. A Gallery of Cancer Research Covers 180 4. Substances Listed in the Thirteenth Report on Carcinogens 186 Index 193
