Roy Hertz, M.D. (1909–2002): The cure of choriocarcinoma and its impact on the development of chemotherapy for cancer

Carvacrol prevents methotrexate-induced renal oxidative injury and renal damage in rats

“…MTX is commonly used at high doses to limit the growth of malignancies, but may also be used at low doses in in ammatory diseases, including psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, to inhibit the proliferation of in ammatory leukocytes [2][3][4]. MTX remains an essential component of modern clinical therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is the primary treatment for malignant gestational trophoblastic disease [5]. In addition to anti-proliferative activity, MTX has antiin ammatory and immunomodulatory properties; however, cytotoxic e ects and other side e ects limit the e cacy of MTX as an anti-in ammatory.…”

Of Leaves and Butterflies

“…2 Pteridines receive their name from the Greek word for wing, pterygium. 3 Folic acid in its crystalline form was first synthesized in New York in 1943 by E.L. Robert Stokstad, a biochemical nutritionist working at the Lederle Laboratories. 1 Of note, folic acid was the same yellow color as the pigment isolated from the Brimstone yellow butterfly (Fig.…”

“…1), a group of researchers at the Lederle Laboratories developed the antifolate drug aminopterin in 1947. 3 Sidney Farber seized the opportunity and used aminopterin to produce the first remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. 2 Sadly, it was not enough to cure the illness and the search for a better agent continued.…”

“…R. Hertz was Chief of Endocrinology at the National Cancer Institute when he invited Dr. Min Chiu Li, formerly of the Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Institute, to collaborate with him and thereby avoid military draft service. 3 Hertz had a strong background in reproductive endocrinology and physiology, and had shown that antifolates could block estrogen-induced proliferation of the endometrium. He became interested in a case of Li's, where a woman being treated experimentally with methotrexate for metastatic melanoma demonstrated a sharp decrease in urinary ␤-hCG excretion, despite the melanoma persisting.…”

“…He became interested in a case of Li's, where a woman being treated experimentally with methotrexate for metastatic melanoma demonstrated a sharp decrease in urinary ␤-hCG excretion, despite the melanoma persisting. 3 Hertz and Li joined forces and decided to apply methotrexate in the treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease.…”