2017 Science of Oncology Award Given to Dr. Druker for His Breakthrough in Leukemia Treatment

Brian J. Druker, who helped develop and secure approval for Imatinib, a breakthrough in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia CML treatment bringing hope to thousands of patients and families, received the American Society of Clinical Oncology ASCO Science of Oncology Award.

The Science of Oncology Award and Lecture recognizes scientists who have made important contributions to cancer science. ASCO has presented it annually since 2005.

Imatinib is a protein inhibitor that enables control of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). Once a potentially fatal illness, CML has become controllable thanks to this drug. In the 1970s, 5-year survival was below %20; after Imatinib’s discovery, it rose above %60. This rate represented a breakthrough for patients with aggressive chronic leukemia. Imatinib also became the fastest-approved drug in American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) history.

Dr. Brian J. Druker not only discovered Imatinib but also introduced the concept of targeted treatment through this work. This concept guided personalized treatment in oncology and paved the way for many targeted therapies in practice. From these perspectives, his discovery is an important study offering hope to cancer patients.

Doctors’ Greatest Motivation Is Patients’ Faith in Them…

Dr. Druker explained in an ASCO Daily News interview:

“I began my career hoping to make a difference in my patients’ lives. Having leukemia patients who needed better treatments encouraged me. Patients’ faith in their doctors is extraordinary, and it helped me through the most difficult times in my career.”

Targeting Differences Between Cancer and Normal Cells

“I have always believed there is a way to destroy cancer cells without harming normal cells, and that scientific cancer research can find the answer. This work also helped us oncologists believe we can develop more effective, less harmful treatments.”

“We continue researching how to transform leukemia from a controllable disease into a curable one. We are now focusing on acute myeloid leukemia, a more complex disease.”

Brian J. Druker is the JELD-WEN Chair of Leukemia Research and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

As physicians contributing to Turkish oncology, we wholeheartedly support Dr. Druker’s work for CML and congratulate him on behalf of thousands of our patients.