AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCHDonald Coffey, a Johns Hopkins University prostate cancer researcher whose accomplishments include the discovery of the nuclear protein matrix, died last week (November 9). He was 85.
Coffey’s lab studied the basics of DNA’s three-dimensional structure and how aberrations in the molecule’s normal function contributes to cancer, as well as the role of androgens in prostate cancer. Coffey was president of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) from 1997 to 1998.
“He may be the most remarkable person I’ve ever met,” William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, which Coffey cofounded in 1973, says in an obituary published by the university. “His impact on cancer and the people who will ultimately solve the cancer problem is immeasurable.”
Born in Tennessee in 1932, Coffey started his career at Hopkins washing glassware for graduate students, according to the...
From his studies of DNA, Coffey and Ronald Berezney, who is now a professor at the University at Buffalo, described the nuclear matrix, the network of proteins that supports the 3-D architecture of the nucleus. Their paper, published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications in 1974, has been cited more than 1,100 times, according to Google scholar.
Several years later, Coffey, along with Hopkins colleagues Bert Vogelstein and Drew Pardoll, revealed that DNA replication occurs along fixed sites within the nuclear matrix.
According to a statement from AACR emailed to The Scientist, Coffey figured out how to pick out androgen-insensitive prostate tumors, contributed to an understanding of telomerase in prostate cancer, and made contributions to the first gene therapy clinical trial for prostate cancer.
“His outstanding leadership skills, dedication to mentoring young investigators, passionate advocacy for sustained increases in funding for cancer research, and remarkable ability to translate complex scientific concepts into lay language made him an icon in the field and a true champion of cancer research,” Margaret Foti, AACR’s CEO, says in the statement.
Coffey is survived by his wife, Eula, his daughters, Kathryn Craighead and Carol Burns, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mtaalamu wa saratani ya prostate wa Chuo Kikuu cha Johns Hopkins, Donald Coffey, ambaye mafanikio yake ni pamoja na ugunduzi wa matrix ya protini ya nyuklia, alikufa wiki iliyopita. Alikuwa na umri wa miaka 85. Maabara ya Coffey ilichunguza misingi ya muundo wa DNA wa pande tatu na jinsi makosa katika kazi ya kawaida ya molekuli yanavyoshiriki katika kansa, na vile vile jukumu la androgens katika kansa ya tezi ya prostate. Coffey alikuwa rais wa Chama cha Marekani cha Utafiti wa Saratani (AACR) kutoka 1997 hadi 1998. "Huenda yeye ndiye mtu wa ajabu zaidi niliyewahi kukutana naye,"" alisema William Nelson, mkurugenzi wa Kituo cha Kinga cha Kinga cha Kimmel katika Chuo Kikuu cha Johns Hopkins, ambacho Coffey alianzisha mwaka wa 1973, katika taarifa ya kifo iliyochapishwa na chuo kikuu hicho." "Kufikia sasa, Coffey amekuwa akifanya kazi katika hospitali ya Hopkins, akifundisha ""DNA,"" na baada ya kuhitimisha masomo yake ya DNA, Coffey na Ronald Berezney, ambaye sasa ni profesa katika Chuo Kikuu cha Buffalo, walielezea ""matrix ya nyuklia,"" mtandao wa protini unaounga mkono usanifu wa 3D wa nyuklia." Makala hiyo, iliyochapishwa katika jarida la Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, imetajwa zaidi ya mara 1,100 katika jarida la The New York Times. Coffey, pamoja na wenzake wa Hopkins, Bert Vogelstein na Drew Pardoll, walifunua kwamba DNA hufanyizwa katika sehemu fulani za nyuklia. Kulingana na taarifa kutoka AACR iliyotumwa kwa The Scientist, Coffey alifahamu jinsi ya kuchagua uvimbe wa prostate usio na androgen, alichangia uelewa wa telomerase katika kansa ya prostate, na kuchangia jaribio la kwanza la kliniki la tiba ya jeni kwa kansa ya prostate. "Ujuzi wake wa kuongoza, kujitolea kwa kuongoza wachunguzi wachanga, utetezi wa shauku kwa ongezeko la kudumu la ufadhili wa utafiti wa saratani, na uwezo wa kushangaza wa kutafsiri dhana ngumu za kisayansi katika lugha ya kawaida zilimfanya kuwa alama katika uwanja na bingwa wa kweli wa utafiti wa saratani, ""Margart Foti, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa AACR, alisema katika taarifa hiyo." Coffey ameachwa na mkewe, Eula, binti zake, Kathryn Craighead na Carol Burns, na wajukuu wengi na wajukuu.