title: Origins of cancer therapy.
abstract: This is a brief overview of the development of cancer therapy with a focus on systemic therapy. The modern era of chemotherapy developed at Yale University Medical School during World War II, a fact that has been generally unrecognized until recently. The observations preceding and involved in the discovery of effective drugs for cancer seem particularly pertinent for this anniversary year.
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. papac@yale.edu
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Papac
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents