This is to introduce Dr. Emil Frei III whose contributions to cancer treatment over the years has been major as acknowledged by numerous awards including most recently the Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from AACR. He is a legend in the development of modern chemotherapy.

Cancer remains a major cause of death and illness. Still certain cancers have become highly curable due, among other things, to chemotherapy used either alone or in conjunction with surgery and/or radiotherapy. Dr. Emil Frei III has been a major contributor to this successful application of chemotherapy. This includes particularly the use of chemotherapeutic agents in combination for acute leukemia in children, Hodgkin's Disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The majority of these patients are now cured with combination chemotherapy. More recently, chemotherapy following surgical removal of the primary tumor has increased disease-free survival in patients with the more common tumors including breast cancer, colon cancer and osteosarcoma. Dr. Frei has been a major contributor over the years to these studies. Tens of thousands of patients have been cured by these results.

Molecular science by identifying target molecules on tumor cells is producing new agents-agents for which clinical trials may be indicated. Antibodies, that may attach specifically to tumor cells may be fueled with highly toxic molecules, have recently proven capable of controlling cancer in preliminary trials. This is just an example of the many categories of basic science which are in ferment.

Dr. Frei's credentials are substantial. He was chairman of the medical programs at NCI, M.D. Anderson and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute where much of the progress was achieved. For collaborators and detailed activities see publications list (research papers).

Together with Dr. James Holland, Dr. Frei III co-authored the first text in medical oncology, Cancer Medicine. Its seventh edition of the text is the primary standard of the field.