Pollard honored for work in oncology
By HELENA RAYAM
News Writer
Morris Pollard, professor emeritus of biology, will receive the Hope Award for his prostate cancer research.
"Based on experiments, prostate cancer is preventable," Pollard said.
Trisha Taylor, member of the St. Joseph County Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society said Pollard's experiments have been very beneficial to oncology.
"It's people like Morris Pollard who are going to find the Holy Grail, which is the cure for all cancer," Taylor said.
Taylor is co-chairing the Night of the Stars Gala on April 15 with Kimberly Micciche. Pollard will receive his award at the event.
The Hope Award is given to those who do outstanding work in the health care field. The American Cancer Society awards in three areas: patient care, patient services and research. Pollard will be honored for his research.
"Research is the number one way to find a cure for cancer," Taylor said.
Pollard's experiments with rats that spontaneously develop prostate cancer have helped him to come to the conclusion that prostate cancer is preventable.
"We found that [the rats] were highly dependent on testosterone and if we reduced testosterone, the disease did not develop," Pollard said.
Isoflavones, anti-cancer mechanisms found in soybeans, contain estrogen, Pollard discovered. This substance counteracts the testosterone levels. Thus, when rats consumed a soy protein isolate diet — one high in isoflavones — the number of prostate cancer cases decreased.
"The data shows that of the rats on a soy protein isolate diet, one out of 100 [rats in the experiment] came down with prostate cancer," Pollard said.
Without the special diet 30 out of 100 developed prostate cancer.
"That is very unique," Pollard said. "It's the only model of spontaneous prostate cancer in the world."
For the last 25 years, Pollard has used the information he obtained from his research of rats and tried to apply it to humans. He said that epidemiological surveys came out with information showing that people who live in Eastern countries had a diet high in isoflavones, unlike in Western countries where cancer is more prevalent. Once people of the Eastern countries moved west, the incidence of cancer in those groups has risen.
"We're looking forward to the time when people will have a soy protein isolate diet," Pollard said.
After 60 years of cancer research, Pollard's observations are gaining even more recognition.
"This experiment is attracting a lot of attention because the experiment takes two years," Pollard said.
Taylor, however, said that the significance of Pollard's experiments goes beyond the time he has given them.
"He received outstanding recommendations from his peers," said Taylor, but added that this was also not the only reason that he will receive the Hope Award.
"His academic background is remarkable," she said. "When we looked at his 60 years of research, we were just blown away."
Taylor said that both the professor's research and personality makes it an honor to give Pollard the award.
"He is incredibly humble and approachable," she said. "The work that he's doing is going to have a direct effect on cancer patients down the road."
All News Stories for Friday, March 31, 2000
