Jeffrey A. Gottlieb, MD, died on July 1, 1975, at the age of 35. At the time of his death he was Head of the Section of Chemotherapy in the Department of Developmental Therapeutics, The University of Texas System Cancer Center, M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, and Executive Secretary, Southwest Oncology Group. He received his training in medical oncology as a Clinical Associate at the National Cancer Institute, Baltimore Cancer Research Center, and as an Advanced Senior Fellow in the Department of Developmental Therapeutics at M.D. Anderson.
During his own long and quietly courageous battle with the disease he worked so intensively to conquer, his contributions to the field of cancer research were innumerable. It is fitting that this issue of Cancer Chemotherapy Reports which summarizes the current status of adriamycin therapy be dedicated to his memory since he, probably more than any other individual, deserves credit for the rapid advancement of this drug from its early clinical trial to its current status in the forefront of cancer chemotherapy. Not only did he recognize the tremendous therapeutic potential of what only a few years ago was a new drug, a fact which led to its widespread use at M.D. Anderson and in the Southwest Oncology Group, but more importantly he recognized its therapeutic limitations. While many of us were pleased to have a drug which was effective in patients with otherwise refractory malignant disease such as adult sarcomas, Dr. Gottlieb was not satisfied and strove for still better results with adriamycin combinations, the achievement of which is well documented elsewhere in this issue. This is but one small example of his continued search for improved treatment of patients afflicted with cancer; for Jeffrey A. Gottlieb, superb administrator, eminent physician, and scientist, was above all a great human being whose consideration for the problems of his patients, friends, and colleagues always took precedent over the obvious problem of his own illness. Few people have lived so full a life in so few years.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie [sic] (Midge) and his two children, Elizabeth and Keith, his parents, and a sister. The Jeffrey A. Gottlieb Memorial Fund has been established at the University of Texas System Cancer Center.
Robert S. Benjamin, MD
Robert B. Livingston, MD
Emil J Freireich, MD
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