1960s

1960   Chromosome abnormalities are associated with leukemias.

1961   Marshal Nirenberg and others prove the triplet code is how the information to make proteins is stored in DNA.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves vinblastine, a drug that binds to tubulin, the protein building block of fiber-like structures called microtubules that play a key role in cell division. The drug is derived from the ornamental shrub, Vinca rosea.

1962   The Royal College of Physicians issues a report on smoking and health.

The FDA approves 5-FU as an anticancer drug.

1963   The FDA approves vincristine, a sister drug to vinblastine.

The Health Insurance Plan (HIP) of Greater New York Study begins. HIP is the first randomized controlled trial of periodic breast cancer screening with mammography.

1964   The U.S. Surgeon General issues a report on reducing the health consequences of smoking.

A virus (the Epstein-Barr virus) is linked to human cancer (Burkitt's lymphoma) for the first time.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is established.

The anticancer drug melphalan (L-PAM) is approved by the FDA .

1966   NCI standardizes the testing of cancer-causing chemicals.

1967   The guaiac fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is introduced as a screening test for colorectal cancer. Guaiac is found in the wood of the tree Guaiacum officinale and can be used to detect hemoglobin in stool samples.

1969   Robert Heubner and George Todaro propose the oncogene hypothesis. An oncogene is a gene that has the potential to make a cell become cancerous. Oncogenes arise from normal genes, or proto-oncogenes, by mutation or by increased expression.

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