252:(ALL). With incremental refinements of original regimens, using randomized clinical studies by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Medical Research Council in the UK (UKALL protocols) and German Berlin-Frankfurt-MĂĽnster clinical trials group (ALL-BFM protocols), ALL in children has become a largely curable disease. This approach was extended to the lymphomas in 1963 by physicians at the NCI, who ultimately proved that nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone, known as the
227:
hypothesized that cancer could best be treated by combinations of drugs, each with a different mechanism of action. Cancer cells could conceivably mutate to become resistant to a single agent, but by using different drugs concurrently it would be more difficult for the tumor to develop resistance to
263:
Freireich stated that he was unfazed by the criticism he initially received for attempting this pioneering method of treatment. He led the Center's
Leukemia Research Program during the 1980s and 1990s. He made contributions to over 600 scientific papers and over 100 books. The Center established
147:(March 16, 1927 – February 1, 2021) was an American hematologist, oncologist, and cancer biologist. He was recognized as a pioneer in the treatment of cancer and use of chemotherapy and is often known as the father of modern leukemia therapy.
264:
the Emil J. Freireich Award for
Excellence in Education to honor his efforts of setting up graduate teaching programs to promote research. It gives recognition to "members of the teaching faculty for excellence in education contributions".
287:
in 2014. He was employed as the Ruth
Harriet Ainsworth Chair, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Director of Adult Leukemia Research Program, and Director of Special Medical Education Programs, at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
175:. However, he was fired due to a dispute with the administrators, after he attempted to treat a patient with heart failure who had been transferred to the hospital's "death room" and left for dead. As a result, he moved to
159:. His father died when he was two years old, and his mother worked in a factory to support Emil and his elder sister. After winning a science fair, a teacher recommended that he consider going to college. He attended the
256:, could cure patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Currently, nearly all successful cancer chemotherapy regimens use this paradigm of multiple drugs given simultaneously, called
155:
Freireich was born in
Chicago on March 16, 1927. His Jewish parents, Mary (Klein) and David Freireich, immigrated to the United States from Hungary. He grew up in poverty during the
291:
Freireich retired in
September 2015, after working at the MD Anderson Cancer Center for 50 years. Nonetheless, he kept on teaching on a part-time basis until the outbreak of the
861:
881:
160:
385:
341:
204:
129:
796:
768:
818:
671:
168:
78:
364:
284:
302:, on February 1, 2021. He was 93; and is survived by his wife, Haroldine, their four children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
703:
871:
195:
during his time there. It was there that he also met his wife, Haroldine
Cunningham, who worked as a nurse at the hospital. He moved to the
379:
876:
866:
582:
163:
at the age of 16 with the help of donations from neighbors, and later from scholarships. He was medically excused from being drafted into
740:
321:
422:
512:
502:
856:
397:
176:
528:
373:
196:
249:
461:
351:
360:
292:
188:
180:
212:
124:
347:
278:
257:
94:
228:
the combination. After many experimental challenges, Holland, Freireich, and Frei simultaneously administered
184:
331:
200:
851:
846:
172:
325:
554:
641:
586:
487:
676:
633:
508:
623:
614:
273:
237:
224:
156:
433:
797:"Houston doctor, known as father of modern Leukemia therapy, dies from COVID-19 at 93"
840:
645:
253:
245:
229:
164:
233:
532:
432:. Bethesda, Maryland: National Cancer Institute. June 19, 1997. Archived from
241:
208:
637:
199:
in 1955 to avoid being drafted into the army as a physician by joining the
310:
Freireich was a recipient of numerous awards for his research, including:
111:
171:
in 1949. After graduation from medical school, he did an internship at
628:
609:
299:
63:
44:
769:"Leukemia: Dr. Emil Freireich, 'giant of modern medicine', dies at 93"
295:. He went on to participate virtually on the center's key meetings.
279:
David and
Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
192:
369:
1981 Jeffrey A. Gottlieb
Memorial Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center
298:
Freireich died from COVID-19 at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in
672:"Trailblazing Houston oncologist Dr. Emil Freireich dies at 93"
215:(NCI). They were tasked with creating a chemotherapy program.
741:"Combination chemotherapy for lymphoma and acute leukemia"
340:
1996 Medical
Oncology Fellows Outstanding Teacher Award,
314:
2008 Paul
Ehrlich Magic-Bullet Lifetime Achievement Award
529:"Freireich (Emil J ), M.D., Oral History Interview: Home"
462:"Pediatric Leukemia Pioneer Emil J. Freireich Dies at 93"
337:
2000 Charles A. LeMaistre Outstanding Achievement Award
698:
696:
694:
334:, 11th International Congress on Anti-Cancer Treatment
378:
1976 David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award and Lecture,
167:
because of a broken leg. He earned his M.D. from the
585:. Houston: MD Anderson Cancer Center. Archived from
248:, and induced long-term remissions in children with
372:1979 de Villiers International Achievement Award,
117:
107:
90:
71:
52:
30:
23:
665:
663:
661:
659:
657:
655:
704:"Legendary oncologist returns to the limelight"
501:Marquis, Who's Who; Who, Marquis Who's (2008).
386:Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research
317:2005 Gerald P. Bodey Sr., Distinguished Award
610:"First person profile: Emil J. Freireich, MD"
342:University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
205:University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
130:University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
8:
762:
760:
758:
183:. He subsequently studied hematology under
862:American people of Hungarian-Jewish descent
577:
575:
573:
571:
882:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas
356:1990 First NIH Distinguished Alumni Award
169:University of Illinois College of Medicine
161:University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
79:University of Illinois College of Medicine
20:
627:
456:
454:
417:
415:
413:
365:General Motors Cancer Research Foundation
179:where he studied internal medicine under
767:Rodriguez, Adrianna (February 2, 2021).
285:American Association for Cancer Research
409:
819:"The man who cured childhood leukemia"
791:
789:
7:
821:. Houston: MD Anderson Cancer Center
504:Who's who in Science and Engineering
191:in Boston, and published a study on
322:Pollin Prize for Pediatric Research
203:. One decade later, he joined the
729:. NY: Scribbler. pp. 139–142.
555:"A Lasting Legacy – The ASCO Post"
488:"A Lasting Legacy - the ASCO Post"
423:"Interview with Emil J. Freireich"
283:He was honored as a Fellow of the
211:, his friend and co-worker at the
14:
670:Bauman, Anna (February 2, 2021).
177:Presbyterian Hospital of Chicago
16:American oncologist (1927–2021)
725:Mukherjee, Siddhartha (2011).
398:History of cancer chemotherapy
244:, together referred to as the
223:In 1965, Freireich, Frei, and
1:
872:University of Illinois alumni
374:Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
197:National Institutes of Health
250:acute lymphoblastic leukemia
877:Fellows of the AACR Academy
867:American cancer researchers
727:The Emperor of All Maladies
352:Leukemia Society of America
898:
361:Charles F. Kettering Prize
272:Freireich was profiled in
207:in Houston, together with
348:Return of the Child Award
213:National Cancer Institute
138:
125:National Cancer Institute
100:
430:NCI Oral History Project
258:combination chemotherapy
219:Combination chemotherapy
95:combination chemotherapy
857:Scientists from Chicago
817:Wendler, Ronda (2015).
608:Printz, Carrie (2016).
189:Mass Memorial Hospital
507:. Marquis Who's Who.
260:or polychemotherapy.
201:Public Health Service
535:on February 13, 2021
268:Later life and death
173:Cook County Hospital
743:. Lasker Foundation
589:on February 4, 2021
583:"Emil J. Freireich"
332:Cino del Duca Award
326:Columbia University
629:10.1002/cncr.32812
468:. February 2, 2021
439:on January 7, 2020
677:Houston Chronicle
293:COVID-19 pandemic
145:Emil J. Freireich
142:
141:
102:Scientific career
25:Emil J. Freireich
889:
831:
830:
828:
826:
814:
808:
807:
805:
803:
793:
784:
783:
781:
779:
764:
753:
752:
750:
748:
737:
731:
730:
722:
716:
715:
713:
711:
706:. March 29, 2015
700:
689:
688:
686:
684:
667:
650:
649:
631:
622:(7): 1373–1374.
605:
599:
598:
596:
594:
579:
566:
565:
563:
561:
551:
545:
544:
542:
540:
531:. Archived from
525:
519:
518:
498:
492:
491:
484:
478:
477:
475:
473:
458:
449:
448:
446:
444:
438:
427:
419:
274:Malcolm Gladwell
238:6-mercaptopurine
225:James F. Holland
181:Howard Armstrong
157:Great Depression
59:
56:February 1, 2021
40:
38:
21:
897:
896:
892:
891:
890:
888:
887:
886:
837:
836:
835:
834:
824:
822:
816:
815:
811:
801:
799:
795:
794:
787:
777:
775:
766:
765:
756:
746:
744:
739:
738:
734:
724:
723:
719:
709:
707:
702:
701:
692:
682:
680:
669:
668:
653:
607:
606:
602:
592:
590:
581:
580:
569:
559:
557:
553:
552:
548:
538:
536:
527:
526:
522:
515:
500:
499:
495:
486:
485:
481:
471:
469:
460:
459:
452:
442:
440:
436:
425:
421:
420:
411:
406:
394:
308:
306:Selected awards
270:
221:
153:
134:
86:
72:Alma mater
67:
61:
57:
48:
42:
36:
34:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
895:
893:
885:
884:
879:
874:
869:
864:
859:
854:
849:
839:
838:
833:
832:
809:
785:
754:
732:
717:
690:
651:
600:
567:
546:
520:
513:
493:
479:
450:
408:
407:
405:
402:
401:
400:
393:
390:
389:
388:
382:
376:
370:
367:
357:
354:
344:
338:
335:
328:
318:
315:
307:
304:
276:'s 2013 book,
269:
266:
220:
217:
152:
149:
140:
139:
136:
135:
133:
132:
127:
121:
119:
115:
114:
109:
105:
104:
98:
97:
92:
91:Known for
88:
87:
85:
84:
82:
75:
73:
69:
68:
62:
60:(aged 93)
54:
50:
49:
47:, Illinois, US
43:
41:March 16, 1927
32:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
894:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
844:
842:
820:
813:
810:
798:
792:
790:
786:
774:
770:
763:
761:
759:
755:
742:
736:
733:
728:
721:
718:
705:
699:
697:
695:
691:
679:
678:
673:
666:
664:
662:
660:
658:
656:
652:
647:
643:
639:
635:
630:
625:
621:
617:
616:
611:
604:
601:
588:
584:
578:
576:
574:
572:
568:
556:
550:
547:
534:
530:
524:
521:
516:
514:9780837957685
510:
506:
505:
497:
494:
489:
483:
480:
467:
463:
457:
455:
451:
435:
431:
424:
418:
416:
414:
410:
403:
399:
396:
395:
391:
387:
383:
381:
377:
375:
371:
368:
366:
362:
358:
355:
353:
349:
345:
343:
339:
336:
333:
329:
327:
323:
319:
316:
313:
312:
311:
305:
303:
301:
296:
294:
289:
286:
282:
280:
275:
267:
265:
261:
259:
255:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
231:
226:
218:
216:
214:
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
158:
150:
148:
146:
137:
131:
128:
126:
123:
122:
120:
116:
113:
110:
106:
103:
99:
96:
93:
89:
83:
80:
77:
76:
74:
70:
65:
55:
51:
46:
33:
29:
22:
19:
823:. Retrieved
812:
800:. Retrieved
776:. Retrieved
772:
745:. Retrieved
735:
726:
720:
710:November 14,
708:. Retrieved
681:. Retrieved
675:
619:
613:
603:
591:. Retrieved
587:the original
560:November 14,
558:. Retrieved
549:
537:. Retrieved
533:the original
523:
503:
496:
482:
470:. Retrieved
465:
441:. Retrieved
434:the original
429:
309:
297:
290:
277:
271:
262:
254:MOPP regimen
246:VAMP regimen
230:methotrexate
222:
165:World War II
154:
144:
143:
118:Institutions
101:
58:(2021-02-01)
18:
852:2021 deaths
847:1927 births
825:February 2,
802:February 9,
778:February 2,
747:February 2,
683:February 2,
593:February 2,
539:February 2,
472:February 4,
443:February 3,
240:(6-MP) and
234:vincristine
66:, Texas, US
841:Categories
404:References
242:prednisone
151:Early life
37:1927-03-16
773:USA Today
646:212690033
209:Emil Frei
638:32163608
392:See also
185:Joe Ross
112:Oncology
466:OncLive
300:Houston
64:Houston
45:Chicago
644:
636:
615:Cancer
511:
384:1972
359:1983
346:1996
330:2001
320:2003
193:anemia
108:Fields
81:, M.D.
642:S2CID
437:(PDF)
426:(PDF)
827:2021
804:2021
780:2021
749:2021
712:2016
685:2021
634:PMID
595:2021
562:2016
541:2021
509:ISBN
474:2021
445:2021
380:ASCO
53:Died
31:Born
624:doi
620:126
187:at
843::
788:^
771:.
757:^
693:^
674:.
654:^
640:.
632:.
618:.
612:.
570:^
464:.
453:^
428:.
412:^
363:,
350:,
324:,
236:,
232:,
829:.
806:.
782:.
751:.
714:.
687:.
648:.
626::
597:.
564:.
543:.
517:.
490:.
476:.
447:.
281:.
39:)
35:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.