James Ewing
Encyclopedia
James Stephen Ewing was an American pathologist
. He was the first Professor of pathology
at Cornell University
and became famous with the discovery of a form of malignant bone
tumor
that later became known as Ewing's sarcoma.
at Amherst College
and then studied medicine
at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York
, from 1888 to 1891. While a student, he was tutored by Francis Delafield
(1841-1915), Theophil Mitchell Prudden
(1849-1924) and Alexander Kolisko
(1857-1918), and developed a strong interest in pathology. He returned to the College of Physicians and Surgeons as instructor in histology
(1893-1897), and clinical pathology (1897-1898). After a brief stint as a surgeon with the US Army, Ewing was appointed in 1899 the first professor of clinical pathology at the Medical College of Cornell University
in New York. His research activities on experimental cancer
were mostly pursued at the Loomis Laboratory for Research in Experimental Pathology, together with the New York Memorial Hospital. In 1902, Dr. Ewing helped to establish one of the first funds for cancer research, endowed by P. Huntington. With his discoveries, Ewing became the most important experimental oncologist
and helped to found, in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research
, and in 1913, the American Society for the Control of Cancer, now the American Cancer Society
. In 1931 Ewing was elected to the presidency of the Medical Board of the General Memorial Hospital for the Treatment of Cancer and Allied Diseases, and became also its director or research. He was also responsible for the creation of present-day Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
in New York City, one of the most important multidisciplinary centers devoted to oncology in the world. He worked at the Memorial until his retirement, in 1939. In 1908 he was president of the Harvey Society.
James Ewing died from bladder cancer
at the age of 76.
as well as oncology. A scientific breakthrough came in 1906, when Ewing and his collaborators proved for the first time that a cancer (lymphosarcoma in dogs) could be transmitted from one animal to another. In 1920 he published his first work on a new kind of malignant osteoma
(cancer of the bone
), which later received his name. Ewing became known also as one of the first proponents of radiation therapy
for cancer, having founded the National Radium Institute in 1913, together with James Douglas
, a mining engineer. This knowledge became a cornerstone of cancer treatment at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
.
In 1928 he challenged the 'seed vs soil' hypothesis of metastatic tumor dissemination, originally credited to Stephen Paget
and proposed that metastasis
occurs purely by anatomic and mechanical routes.
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
. He was the first Professor of pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and became famous with the discovery of a form of malignant bone
Bone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
that later became known as Ewing's sarcoma.
Life
James Ewing, was born in 1866 to a prominent family of Pittsburgh. He first completed his M.A. in 1888 New International EncyclopediaNew International Encyclopedia
The New International Encyclopedia was an American encyclopedia first published in 1902 by Dodd, Mead and Company. It descended from the International Cyclopaedia and was updated in 1906, 1914 and 1926.-History:...
at Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
and then studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, often known as P&S, is a graduate school of Columbia University that is located on the health sciences campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan...
, from 1888 to 1891. While a student, he was tutored by Francis Delafield
Francis Delafield
Francis Delafield was an American physician, born in New York City. His father, Dr. Edward Delafield, was the son of the prominent John Delafield who had emigrated to America from London, England in 1783 carrying the provisional peace treaty between England and The United States...
(1841-1915), Theophil Mitchell Prudden
Theophil Mitchell Prudden
Theophil Mitchell Prudden was an American pathologist, born at Middlebury, Connecticut. He graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School, Yale, in 1872 and received his M. D. from Yale School of Medicine in 1875. He became an assistant and was professor of pathology in the College of...
(1849-1924) and Alexander Kolisko
Alexander Kolisko
Alexander Kolisko was an Austrian pathologist who was a native of Vienna. He was the father of anthroposophist Eugen Kolisko ....
(1857-1918), and developed a strong interest in pathology. He returned to the College of Physicians and Surgeons as instructor in histology
Histology
Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining cells and tissues commonly by sectioning and staining; followed by examination under a light microscope or electron microscope...
(1893-1897), and clinical pathology (1897-1898). After a brief stint as a surgeon with the US Army, Ewing was appointed in 1899 the first professor of clinical pathology at the Medical College of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in New York. His research activities on experimental 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...
were mostly pursued at the Loomis Laboratory for Research in Experimental Pathology, together with the New York Memorial Hospital. In 1902, Dr. Ewing helped to establish one of the first funds for cancer research, endowed by P. Huntington. With his discoveries, Ewing became the most important experimental oncologist
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
and helped to found, in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research
American Association for Cancer Research
The American Association for Cancer Research is the world's oldest and largest professional association to advancing cancer research. Based in Philadelphia, AACR focuses on all aspects of cancer research including basic, clinical and translational research into the etiology, prevention, diagnosis,...
, and in 1913, the American Society for the Control of Cancer, now 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...
. In 1931 Ewing was elected to the presidency of the Medical Board of the General Memorial Hospital for the Treatment of Cancer and Allied Diseases, and became also its director or research. He was also responsible for the creation of present-day Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center is a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital...
in New York City, one of the most important multidisciplinary centers devoted to oncology in the world. He worked at the Memorial until his retirement, in 1939. In 1908 he was president of the Harvey Society.
James Ewing died from 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...
at the age of 76.
Works
Ewing was active in many fronts, including hematologyHematology
Hematology, also spelled haematology , is the branch of biology physiology, internal medicine, pathology, clinical laboratory work, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases...
as well as oncology. A scientific breakthrough came in 1906, when Ewing and his collaborators proved for the first time that a cancer (lymphosarcoma in dogs) could be transmitted from one animal to another. In 1920 he published his first work on a new kind of malignant osteoma
Osteoma
An osteoma is a new piece of bone usually growing on another piece of bone, typically the skull. It is a benign tumor.When the bone tumor grows on other bone it is known as "homoplastic osteoma"; when it grows on other tissue it is called "heteroplastic osteoma".Osteoma represents the most common...
(cancer of the bone
Bone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
), which later received his name. Ewing became known also as one of the first proponents of radiation therapy
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...
for cancer, having founded the National Radium Institute in 1913, together with James Douglas
James Douglas (businessman)
James S. Douglas was a Canadian mining engineer and businessman who introduced a number of metallurgical innovations in copper mining....
, a mining engineer. This knowledge became a cornerstone of cancer treatment at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center is a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital...
.
In 1928 he challenged the 'seed vs soil' hypothesis of metastatic tumor dissemination, originally credited to Stephen Paget
Stephen Paget
Stephen Paget was an English surgeon, the son of the distinguished surgeon and pathologist Sir James Paget. Stephen Paget has been long credited with proposing the "seed and soil" theory of metastasis, even though in his paper “The Distribution Of Secondary Growths In Cancer Of The Breast”, The...
and proposed that metastasis
Metastasis
Metastasis, or metastatic disease , is the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. It was previously thought that only malignant tumor cells and infections have the capacity to metastasize; however, this is being reconsidered due to new research...
occurs purely by anatomic and mechanical routes.
External links
- Cancer Index article on James Ewing
- James Ewing Biography. WhoNamedIt.
- Cover of Time Magazine Story on Professor James Ewing, January 12, 1931.
- James Ewing Biography by James B. Murphy Biographical Memoir, National Academy of Sciences Washington D.C., 1951.
- About James Ewing at www.staff.ncl.ac.uk