1980s

The first highly effective anti-nausea drugs are developed to alleviate this side effect of chemotherapy.

Continuous pain medication infusion pumps are developed.

Biochemical and genetic assays are integrated into epidemiologic studies (molecular epidemiology).

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is introduced in the early 1980s.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice are developed in the mid-1980s. These mice play an important role in cancer research.

1980   NCI scientists isolate human T-cell lymphotrophic virus 1 (HTLV-1). This virus, which is also called adult T-cell leukemia virus, is the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and several other diseases.

1981   The first human viral vaccine that can prevent cancer (hepatitis B virus vaccine for liver cancer) is introduced.

1982   The first major DNA sequence databases are established in the United States (GenBank) and Germany.

NCI's Physician Data Query (PDQ) cancer information database goes online. PDQ is made available through a dial-up connection to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

1983   The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique, which is a DNA analysis technique, is used in cancer research.

Computerized tomography of the colon (virtual colonoscopy) is proposed as a screening method to identify colon polyps and colorectal cancer.

1984   Dietary guidelines to reduce cancer are introduced.

The human p53 gene is cloned.

1985   Lumpectomy plus radiation therapy is found equivalent to mastectomy for early breast cancer.

The polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) is introduced. This technique allows millions of copies of an individual segment of DNA to be made from a single copy.

Nerve-sparing prostatectomy, designed to preserve potency and urinary continence, is introduced.

1986   The human HER2 proto-oncogene is cloned. HER2 is also called neu and erbB2.

1987   The human retinoblastoma (Rb) gene is cloned. Rb is a tumor-suppressor gene associated with the pediatric eye cancer retinoblastoma.

1988   Post-operative (adjuvant) chemotherapy is proven to increase disease-free survival in women with early breast cancer.

The Bethesda System Conference develops a system for standardized reporting of Pap smear results.

1989   Adjuvant chemotherapy is proven to increase survival in colon cancer.

The Human Gene Mapping database is established.

Carboplatin, a drug related to cisplatin, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Certification in radiation oncology is first offered.

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