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Show Could cause cancer Research center studies radiation effect by CINDY JOHNSTON Chronicle Staff "We are currently studying the induction of all cancers by internally in-ternally deposited radiation," says Dr. Thomas F. Dougherty of the Cancer Research Lab. Radionuclides can be ingested by both the respiratory and digestive tracts. Radiation in the atmosphere travels through the food chain atmosphere and water to plant to radiation increases, the cost of shielding against it becomes more and more expensive, Dougherty says. He believes the evidence of local danger from nuclear testing in Nevada has not been proven. He does not believe the amount of radiation has reached a high enough level for tumor production. Even in Japan there has not been a great increase in leukemia or other cancers according to the Atomic Bomb Research Committee. Com-mittee. They do keep parameters on dangerous doses, however, Dougherty says. The Radium Dial Papers show the pattern of metabolism of radionuclides, doses and effects, in what length of time. Besides studying radiation effects ef-fects in relation to cancer, the Cancer Research Lab. studies cell cycling, the relationship between the way cells synthesize DNA and the way cancer cells divide. Cell cultures are designed toward comparing normal and cancer cells in their metabolism what stimulates and impedes their growth. Dougherty's interest lies in this field. He studies steroid hormones and their effect in the induction of leukemia and the stopping of its growth. He has found that estrogen stimulates the growth of leukemia and adrenal cortical hormones impede its growth. s Dougherty has also stuHi lectins as stimulants for V production of immature celk blestula-as well as lymphocyte! He is studying lectins with the effects of hormones to see whether or not they influence lectin production of blastula Dougherty does not see a cur. for cancer in the near future l said however, that the more that k understood about hrZ radionuclides cause cancer the easier it will be to prevent cancer bv diminishing cancer-causino radiation. Hope lies in alleviating cancer susceptibility and limiting its growth so that even with cancer a person can live a normal life. One of the lab's more interesting findings is that although dogs are extremely susceptible to malignancy of the mammary gland once the tumor is removed it almost always does not recur Surgical removal of malignant breast cancers in dogs reduces the death rate for breast cancer to almost zero. Dougherty would like to find what dogs have that makes this possible and try to adapt it to humans. The lab itself occupies several (continued on page 3 animal to human. Dougherty coordinates studies of pathological changes in organisms due to ingested radiation -what type of tumors are caused and how malignant they are. Mice are used in experiments with the radionuclide Californium. Dogs are used in studies about Plutonium 239, a most effective radionuclide used in reactors for the development of electricity. The dog's life is not measurably shortened for ingested radiation has a long latency period before its effects begin to show. Studies determine what different doses of isotope would be effective in what length of time. Dogs have already developed bone cancer from Plutonium 239, Dougherty says. The extreme dangers in Plutonium 239 exposure .lie in accidents such as electrical plant fires and explosions. Dougherty also says Plutonium 239 is used in weather satellites where careless accidents are possible. Approximately 70 people work in the Cancer Research Lab. Students provide some part-time help. The facility has operated at the University for 22 years. The Commission tried to start studies of the effects of radiation as soon as possible after the world entered the atomic age. Although the high doses caused by a global atomic war seem unlikely, the more knowledge that can be gained, the better prevention of radiation-caused radiation-caused cancer will be. As the amount of atmospheric Jfects of radiation hazards under study lined with tiles made of lead, copper, and cadmium. They gleam like a copper tea kettle. A modernistic couch, underneath what look like a huge X-ray machine, stands next to a white parson's table. The "counting room" is used to count the amount of radiation in dogs and humans in experiments. The density of the walls shut out 1100 of the atmospheric radiation. Steel from the Indiana was used because the ship was built and used before the atomic age and its steel contains little radioactivity. ued from page 2) in the University Medical "PkThe building housing the f lies to the east, next to the ''Wins. ty posters are prominently edm hallways and on doors. W' radioactive materials are . m extremely cold freezers. . J0 Energy Commission ls the facility regularly and regulations are strictly 'Diced. individual labs are kitchen-.wpboards kitchen-.wpboards and shelves hold of little brown bottles all .;lhr labeled. On counter tops , , microscopes and Seated equipment. .!'om contains computerized U 6,ers and extremely ;Tl,SCales- Another has a contr"ed walk-in iiLndf h00ded table' have their own room. I neatlv ranged ac- to sex and type. 4 iMhal and interesting 'ml "counting room" Cdi 'ecesof hull of the 1 1 ,he door itself Vir8' The walls are |