Texas Urologist Will Head National Cancer Institute

Cancer leaders embraced President George W. Bush's appointment Dec. 6 of Texas urologist Andrew von Eschenbach to head the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In no uncertain terms, they praised von Eschenbach's political know-how, consensus-building skills, and openness to promoting all facets of a nationwide cancer agenda. Trish Strangmeyer PhotographyAndrew von Eschenbach A urologic surgeon, von Eschenbach directed the Genitourinary Cancer Center and Prostate Cancer Research Center at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. When his appointment was announced, von Eschenbach was also president-elect of the American Cancer Society and a founder of the National Dialogue on Cancer, a national forum and public-private partnership devoted to spearheading a national cancer agenda. The National Dialogue on Cancer was established in 1998 in conjunction through the American Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, industry, and other partners. President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush chair the group, U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) is vice chair, and Tom Ridge, former Pennsylvania governor and now director of homeland security at the White House, was an early collaborating partner. Although to a certain extent, people acknowledged that von Eschenbach, a close confidante of the Bush family, was in the right place at the right time, they argued that that doesn't belittle the appointment. Donald S. Coffey, professor of urology, oncology, and pharmacology and molecular sciences at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions' Brady Urological Institute, said it will be "good to have someone who has the ear of the administration." Coffey acknowledged that "although some in the cancer research community would rather have a Nobel laureate, Andy understands molecular biology and disease and will bring them both into balance." That's been a problem, according to Coffey, that he thinks von Eschenbach will be able to reconcile. Coffey hopes von Eschenbach will work hard to bolster funding for physician research grants. "The number of MDs getting research grants has been vastly underrated," added Coffey. American Association for Cancer Research executive director Marge Foti viewed the announcement as a plus for the cancer research agenda: "Andy's work spans basic, translational, and clinical work. We have found him to be very effective, a strong leader, and a good listener. He understands that basic science research is the underpinning for helping cancer patients around the world." Foti identified several areas that she expects von Eschenbach will be responsive to evaluating: increased funding for young investigators, enhancing the effectiveness and outreach of cancer centers, developing new drugs, and bolstering clinical trials. "We think that Andy will be a strong advocate for ensuring that funding for cancer research remains a top priority," she said. "He has that fire in the belly that you want in a leader." Judah Folkman, professor of cell biology and the Andrus professor of pediatric surgery at Harvard Medical School, and director of the surgical research laboratory at Children's Hospital in Boston, said von Eschenbach "is very interested in laboratory science and the translation of that science to the clinic. He is a very good man who is keen on accomplishing a lot to ameliorate cancer problems." Larry Norton, chief of solid tumor oncology and president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, stressed that von Eschenbach "relates very well to basic science researchers and has shown very good scientific taste in urinary cancer research." Norton predicts that he will continue to work very well at linking the clinical work to the lab. Von Eschenbach's administrative roles at ACS and M.D. Anderson show that he has the wherewithal and ability to "coordinate complex systems," he added. And Norton did not see von Eschenbach's background, largely in urological surgery, as a potential barrier in supporting bench research. "When it comes down to it, we are all cancer doctors and all scientists," he said. "You are never going to find someone who doesn't have an area of focus—and you are never going to have it all in one person.... He is very well qualified. Everybody can breathe easily." Skepticism is something that immediate past-NCI director Richard Klausner remembers in starting his tenure. "None of us do everything and the job that he has will be convincing people in other constituencies that he can be supportive of them.... Andy has a great appreciation for bench researchers, and I don't see this as any kind of a problem." John Mendelsohn, president of University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, said von Eschenbach "is very interested in discoveries." Another strength that will serve NCI well is von Eschenbach's early advocacy for a multidisciplinary approach in cancer, according to Mendelsohn. "He was one of our top clinicians and he was instrumental in pioneering working together in a patient-focused way at MD Anderson," said Mendelsohn. "He had an early emphasis on that and it is a trend that has caught on nationally." Kenneth Pienta, director of urologic oncology and head of NCI's prostate SPORE grant at the University of Michigan School of Medicine, who has known von Eschenbach for more than 20 years, doubts that bench researchers have anything to worry about with von Eschenbach's appointment: "Andy has dedicated his whole life to wiping out cancer. He recognizes that basic science is absolutely necessary to eradicating cancer—and he knows that translating that knowledge to the clinical setting is absolutely imperative." Laura Newman is a freelance science writer in New York.

Texas Urologist Will Head National Cancer Institute

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