Philadelphia chromosome

In 1959, in Philadelphia, scientist David Hungerford discovered a missing piece of DNA. Little did he know at the time that he had stumbled upon the key to modern cancer research—the Philadelphia chromosome. It took more than 30 years for doctors and researchers all over the world to understand the significance of this epoch-making discovery. Cancer research was never the same again in 1990 when the Philadelphia chromosome was identified as the single cause of a deadly disease, chronic myelogenous leukemia. Gleevec was the first successful drug against a deadly cancer in history. This book comprehensively records the scientific and medical discoveries leading to this drug therapy from the genetic level, helping readers understand the methods and concepts of modern cancer research. More than 70,000 people around the world are diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia each year, and this book documents how their fortunes are radically changed.