title: [Dr. Stéphane Leduc and the first treatments of cancer by irradiation in Nantes and France].
abstract: In August 1883, a Chair of physics was created in Nantes with Dr. Leduc (1853-1939) as the first teacher. Physician and biophysicist, he was a pioneer and visionary in many areas, including the "synthetic biology". Dr. Leduc immediately understood the importance of the discovery of the X-ray by Röntgen in 1896 for medicine. As early as in 1905, he successfully treated cancers with irradiation. In 1935, he was awarded a gold key by the American Congress of Physical Therapy for his accomplishments. The teachings of Dr Leduc largely influenced his student and successor, Dr René Gauducheau's (1881-1968) orientation towards physical and radiological sciences. This latter introduced radium therapy, and began his endeavor for the creation of a cancer center which opened its doors in 1924, recently becoming the Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest in 2011.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'études supérieures de la Renaissance, université François-Rabelais, 59, rue Néricault-Destouches, 37013 Tours, France. Electronic address: emmanuel.drouin2@wanadoo.fr.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drouin
authors.affiliation: Institut de cancérologie de l'Ouest René-Gauducheau, boulevard Jacques-Monod, 44805 Saint-Herblain, France.
authors.forename: F-R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Bataille
authors.affiliation: Institut de cancérologie de l'Ouest René-Gauducheau, boulevard Jacques-Monod, 44805 Saint-Herblain, France.
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mahé
mesh_terms: D005602:France; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000266:history* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000266:history*
keywords: Cancer center; Centre de lutte contre le cancer; Dr Gauducheau; Dr Leduc; Radiotherapy; Radiothérapie