PRESS RELEASES   Entering new era in science 11/20/2006 The Oklahoman/Opinion By Michael D. Anderson, Ph. D. An explosion of scientific discovery has grown out of the success in decoding the human genome, a ferocity of advancements that the acting director of the National Cancer Institute, Dr. John E. Niederhuber, recently described as putting America on the threshold of an "unprecedented new era" in its struggle against cancer and other diseases. The opening of the new cancer center at the OU Health Sciences Center casts our hopes on a bright future and new scientific possibilities already showing promise. For example, a new clinical trial using individual genetic profiles in treating breast cancer symbolizes changes that in a few years will bring a "totally new" approach to medicine. Niederhuber predicted people will have their individual genomes recorded on a computer chip they carry like a credit card, or have implanted under the skin. If one has some of the dozens of mutations necessary for a cancer to form, then a periodic check of their genetic profile could be done as simply as diabetics monitor their blood sugar levels. As examples of the plethora of breakthrough concepts in this "unprecedented new era," science writer Jeff Nesmith lists several new discoveries from scientific journals reporting from one week in May. Among them: • Cellular biologists in Connecticut and Oregon identified a protein that the malaria parasite needs to survive in human red blood cells. (This may lead to a therapy that will save hundreds of thousands of lives.) • Department of Agriculture scientists reported synthesizing a protein that may protect milk cows from mastitis, an infection that costs dairy farmers $2 billion a year. • Virginia Commonwealth University researchers said they may have found a way to inhibit a protein that plays an essential role in the ability of the AIDS virus to enter a human cell. • Harvard researchers reported that a protein called Schnurri-3 combines with another protein to suppress a third protein, Runx2, which promotes new bone formation. A protein to suppress Schnurri-3 might be useful in treating osteoporosis. Niederhuber gave a word of caution. Cancer is an extremely complex disease. Genetic analysis often shows cancers that have been removed from the same organ in different patients may look identical under a microscope but are actually different diseases altogether. "Cancer won't be low-hanging fruit in this new era of discovery," he said. Niederhuber believes the new science of proteins is most exciting in the way it is beginning to piece together the mystifying processes by which mutations cause cancers to form and spread. Dr. Harold Varmus, former National Institutes of Health director, is quoted in Science magazine that "most of the effects of the new era in cancer research are promised, not achieved." He adds that the age-adjusted mortality rate for cancer has been basically unchanged for a half a century. For any of us who have witnessed the death of our loved ones to the disease of cancer, we long for the success of research in this unprecedented era of science. Oklahoma can anticipate great opportunity for innovative research from the projected comprehensive cancer center here. Anderson is president of the Presbyterian Health Foundation.