George E. Moore
Encyclopedia
George Eugene Moore was an American
doctor
and cancer
researcher notable for his discovery of the link between chewing tobacco
and mouth cancer. He was head of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute
in Buffalo, New York
. He was the author of two books and more than 700 papers.
where he earned his medical degree
and a doctorate
of surgery. As a 26 year-old intern at the university he pioneered the use fluorescent and radioactive materials to find and diagnose brain tumors. In 1950 he was awarded the Samuel D. Gross Prize, given every five years by the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery for the best original research in surgery by an American citizen. From 1952 to 1973 he was the director of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute
, during which time he greatly expanded the institution's facilities and faculty. He met his wife Lorraine P. Hammell while hitchhiking; they were married on February 22, 1945.
In 1954, with colleagues from the Institute and the University of Minnesota
, he published a study of male patients with mouth cancer in which he reported that the majority of patients had been tobacco chewers thus establishing a link between tobacco and cancer. They also found that chewers often exhibited a condition known as leukoplakia
(irritation of the gums as well as mouth lesions). This study was used as keystone evidence in the American Cancer Society
's case against tobacco.
He left the institute in 1967 when he was appointed director of public health research in New York
. In 1973 he moved to Denver to become professor of surgery
and microbiology
at the University of Colorado
.
He had a multitude of interests aside from medicine as well. He was also interested in geology and was the president of the Colorado Mineral Society.
He died of bladder cancer
in Evergreen, Colorado
, at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife and their children; Allan, Donald, Linda, Laurie, and Cathy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
researcher notable for his discovery of the link between chewing tobacco
Chewing tobacco
Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco (also known colloquially as hoobastank, backy, tobac, doogooos,Hogleg, chewpoos, chits, chewsky, chawsky, dip, flab, chowers, guy, or a wad, as well as referred to as dipsky, snuff, a pinch, a yopper, a Packing a bomb, a tobbackey or packing a...
and mouth cancer. He was head of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
The Roswell Park Cancer Institute is a comprehensive cancer research and treatment center located in Buffalo, New York. Founded in 1898 by Dr. Roswell Park, it was the first dedicated medical facility for cancer treatment and research in the United States. The facility is involved in drug...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. He was the author of two books and more than 700 papers.
Biography
Moore was born in Minneapolis. He attended the University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
where he earned his medical degree
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
and a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
of surgery. As a 26 year-old intern at the university he pioneered the use fluorescent and radioactive materials to find and diagnose brain tumors. In 1950 he was awarded the Samuel D. Gross Prize, given every five years by the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery for the best original research in surgery by an American citizen. From 1952 to 1973 he was the director of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
The Roswell Park Cancer Institute is a comprehensive cancer research and treatment center located in Buffalo, New York. Founded in 1898 by Dr. Roswell Park, it was the first dedicated medical facility for cancer treatment and research in the United States. The facility is involved in drug...
, during which time he greatly expanded the institution's facilities and faculty. He met his wife Lorraine P. Hammell while hitchhiking; they were married on February 22, 1945.
In 1954, with colleagues from the Institute and the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, he published a study of male patients with mouth cancer in which he reported that the majority of patients had been tobacco chewers thus establishing a link between tobacco and cancer. They also found that chewers often exhibited a condition known as leukoplakia
Leukoplakia
Leukoplakia is a clinical term used to describe patches of keratosis. It is visible as adherent white patches on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, including the tongue, but also other areas of the gastro-intestinal tract, urinary tract and the genitals. The clinical appearance is highly...
(irritation of the gums as well as mouth lesions). This study was used as keystone evidence in the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
's case against tobacco.
He left the institute in 1967 when he was appointed director of public health research in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In 1973 he moved to Denver to become professor of surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
and microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado Denver
The University of Colorado Denver, shortened as CU Denver, UC Denver, or UCD, is a public university in the United States state of Colorado. It is one of three schools of the University of Colorado system. The university has two campuses — one in downtown Denver at the Auraria Campus, and the other...
.
He had a multitude of interests aside from medicine as well. He was also interested in geology and was the president of the Colorado Mineral Society.
He died of bladder cancer
Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is any of several types of malignant growths of the urinary bladder. It is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine; it is located in the pelvis...
in Evergreen, Colorado
Evergreen, Colorado
Evergreen is a census-designated place and a U.S. Post Office in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Evergreen is roughly west of Denver. The population was 9,038 at the 2010 census...
, at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife and their children; Allan, Donald, Linda, Laurie, and Cathy.