Janet Rowley

File:Janet Rowley - National Medal of Science, 1998.webm Janet Rowley (April 5, 1925 – December 17, 2013) was a pioneering American geneticist whose groundbreaking research in chromosome abnormalities led to the discovery of the genetic basis of various cancers. Her work has had a profound impact on clinical oncology, leading to the development of targeted cancer therapy treatments.

Early Life and Education

Janet Davison Rowley was born in New York City, but grew up in Chicago, where she developed an early interest in science. She pursued her education at the University of Chicago, earning a Bachelor of Philosophy in 1944, a Bachelor of Science in 1946, and an M.D. in 1948. Despite facing significant gender barriers in a male-dominated field, Rowley completed her residency in internal medicine and later focused on medical research.

Career and Research

Rowley's career was primarily based at the University of Chicago, where she joined the faculty in 1962. Her research initially focused on leukemia and later expanded to include other types of cancer. In the early 1970s, using a then-new technique that allowed for the identification of individual chromosomes, Rowley made her first major discovery: a chromosomal translocation between chromosomes 8 and 21 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This finding was revolutionary because it was the first concrete evidence that cancer could be caused by genetic abnormalities.

Following this discovery, Rowley identified several other chromosomal translocations in different types of leukemia and lymphoma. Among her most notable findings was the identification of the Philadelphia chromosome, a specific genetic abnormality associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). This discovery was pivotal in the development of imatinib (Gleevec), a targeted therapy that has significantly improved the prognosis for patients with CML.

Impact and Legacy

Rowley's work has fundamentally changed the understanding of cancer genetics, demonstrating that cancer is a genetic disease at its core. Her discoveries have paved the way for the development of targeted therapies that have transformed cancer treatment, moving it away from traditional, non-specific chemotherapies to treatments that specifically target genetic abnormalities in cancer cells.

Throughout her career, Rowley received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to science and medicine, including the National Medal of Science in 1998 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. She was also a member of various prestigious organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine.

Death and Posthumous Recognition

Janet Rowley passed away on December 17, 2013, at the age of 88. Her death was widely mourned in the scientific and medical communities, and she is remembered as a trailblazer who opened new avenues in the understanding and treatment of cancer. Posthumously, her legacy continues to influence the field of oncology, with ongoing research building upon her discoveries.

See Also

• Genetics
• Cancer
• Chromosomal translocation
• Targeted therapy