Charles Brenton Huggins - Physicians, Facts and Childhood
Charles Brenton Huggins's Personal Details
Charles Huggins was a Canadian-born American physician, surgeon and physiologist who won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1966
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | September 22, 1901 |
| Died on | January 12, 1997 |
| Nationality | Canadian, American |
| Famous | Physicians, Surgeons, Physiologists, Physicians, Surgeons |
| Spouses | Margaret Wellman |
| Birth Place | Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Born Country | Canada |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Charles Edward Huggins |
| Mother | Bessie Maria Spencer |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Famous as | Physician & Surgeon |
| Died at Age | 95 |
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Charles Brenton Huggins's photo
Who is Charles Brenton Huggins?
Charles Brenton Huggins was a Canadian-born American physician, surgeon and physiologist who won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1966 for his discovery regarding use of hormones to regulate spread of certain types of cancer. Such findings of Huggins was the first of its kind in this field that showed chemicals can be applied to control the spreading of this fatal disease and this path-breaking discovery aided in initiating a new era of drug therapy that laid the foundation for advanced treatment of prostate and breast cancer. He conducted his research work on cancer, specializing in prostate cancer at the ‘University of Chicago’ where he remained director of the ‘Ben May Laboratory for Cancer Research’ for nearly two decades. He was a male urological and genital tract specialist and through his investigations he found that by applying doses of the female hormone estrogen, the actions of the male hormone in a patient can be restricted, which would impede the growth of prostate cancer. Through his investigations, he also displayed the dependency of breast cancers on particular hormones. He succeeded in regressing tumours of a few of his patients by removing the sources of estrogen that is the adrenal glands and the ovaries. Such research work of Huggins paved way for development of drugs that prevent estrogen production in body, thus aiding in the treatment of breast cancer. In 1966 he received the ‘Gairdner Foundation International Award’.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born on September 22, 1901, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to Charles Edward Huggins and Bessie Maria Spencer as their elder son. His father was a pharmacist.
He studied in public schools in Halifax. In 1920 he completed his graduation by obtaining a BA degree from the ‘Acadia University’ located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
He then got enrolled at the ‘Harvard University’ in Boston, Massachusetts to study medicine and earned his MD in 1924.
Career
From 1924 to 1926 he did his internship at the ‘University of Michigan and thereafter he was inducted as an instructor in Surgery at the Medical School of the University in 1926, a post he served for a year.
He remained a member of the Faculty of the ‘University of Chicago’ from 1927, serving first as an instructor in Surgery from 1927 to 1929. After initiating his career as a surgeon, he made significant discoveries in urology, a subject that he specialized in while at the university.
Thereafter he joined as an ‘Assistant Professor at the ‘University of Chicago’ and held the position till 1933 following which he served as Associate Professor of the university until 1936.
During the 1930s he began his research on cancer, an ailment which at that time was treated by conducting surgery and applying radiation and not by drugs.
In 1936 he became a Professor of Surgery at the ‘University of Chicago’ and served in the position until 1962 following which he served the university as ‘William B. Ogden Distinguished Service Professor’.
He published a paper in 1941 that displayed the association between function of the prostate gland and the hormonal system. He discovered that the actions of the male hormone in a patient can be impeded by using female sex hormone estrogen, which would result in prevention of growth of prostate cancer. Thus hormone estrogen is considered the first medication that can be taken orally as a cure to cancer, which would give similar effect as removing the testicles surgically.
He conducted his first surgery of removing the adrenal glands completely in 1944 as an intense treatment to combat advanced cancer.
Meanwhile from 1951 to 1969 he remained Director of ‘Ben May Laboratory for Cancer Research’ at the ‘University of Chicago’ and carried on with his research work at the university till 1972.
His research work on cancer cells changed the earlier perceived notion regarding the behaviour of such cells as autonomous and self-perpetuating. Through his investigations he displayed that like normal cells of a body certain cancer cells also depend on hormonal signals to exist and develop, and that further development of tumors could be bogged down for some time at least when the cancer cells are deprived of the correct signals. This path-breaking discovery of Huggins brought around a new ray of hope and highly revived research of such a fateful disease.
During the 1950s he began his investigations on breast cancer. He postulated that this ailment is also dependent on particular hormones and removal of the adrenal glands and ovaries, which are the origins of such hormones, can result in substantial reversion of breast cancers of advanced stage in almost one-third of women who were treated.
As it was difficult to ascertain as to which woman would benefit by undergoing endocrine surgery, he requested his colleague, Dr. Elwood V. Jensen to find out a procedure to analyse the estrogen-receptor content of breast cancers and apply that to ascertain response to hormonal treatment.
He discovered that breast cancer can be developed quickly by injecting a particular chemical in certain types of rats.
He worked on a small lab and conducted his experiments working directly on animals. To devote ample time for his research work, he often tried to avoid administrative responsibilities.
In 1972 he became the chancellor of the ‘Acadia University’. He held the position till 1979 following which he returned back to Chicago.
He received honorary degrees from several universities including a M.Sc. from the ‘Yale University’ in 1947 and a D.Sc. from the ‘Washington University’ in 1951 and that from the ‘Leeds University’ in 1953.
He remained fellow of many College of Surgeons including the ‘Royal College of Surgeons’, Edinburgh (1958); the ‘Royal College of Surgeons’ (hon.) (1959); and the ‘American College of Surgeons’ (hon.) (1963).
He was a member of the ‘American Philosophical Society’ and the ‘National Academy of Sciences’.
Awards & Achievements
In 1966 he was awarded the ‘Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine’ for his contributions in the field of cancer research.
Personal Life & Legacy
On July 29, 1927, he married Margaret Wellman. The couple had a son and a daughter. His wife died in 1983.
His son Dr. Charles Edward Huggins was a physician and cryobiologist who helped in developing a procedure of freezing and reusing donated red blood cells in such a way that it can be stored for almost an indefinite period. Charles succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 60 in 1989.
On January 12, 1997, Huggins died at his Chicago home at the age of 95 after several years of ill-health. He is survived by his daughter Emily Wellman Huggins Fine.
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Charles Brenton Huggins's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1966) | |
| 0 | Gairdner Foundation International Award (1966) | |
Charles Brenton Huggins biography timelines
- // 22nd Sep 1901He was born on September 22, 1901, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to Charles Edward Huggins and Bessie Maria Spencer as their elder son. His father was a pharmacist.
- // 1920He studied in public schools in Halifax. In 1920 he completed his graduation by obtaining a BA degree from the ‘Acadia University’ located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
- // 1924He then got enrolled at the ‘Harvard University’ in Boston, Massachusetts to study medicine and earned his MD in 1924.
- // 29th Jul 1927 To 1983On July 29, 1927, he married Margaret Wellman. The couple had a son and a daughter. His wife died in 1983.
- // 1933 To 1936Thereafter he joined as an ‘Assistant Professor at the ‘University of Chicago’ and held the position till 1933 following which he served as Associate Professor of the university until 1936.
- // 1936 To 1962In 1936 he became a Professor of Surgery at the ‘University of Chicago’ and served in the position until 1962 following which he served the university as ‘William B. Ogden Distinguished Service Professor’.
- // 1941He published a paper in 1941 that displayed the association between function of the prostate gland and the hormonal system. He discovered that the actions of the male hormone in a patient can be impeded by using female sex hormone estrogen, which would result in prevention of growth of prostate cancer. Thus hormone estrogen is considered the first medication that can be taken orally as a cure to cancer, which would give similar effect as removing the testicles surgically.
- // 1944He conducted his first surgery of removing the adrenal glands completely in 1944 as an intense treatment to combat advanced cancer.
- // 1966In 1966 he was awarded the ‘Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine’ for his contributions in the field of cancer research.
- // 1972 To 1979In 1972 he became the chancellor of the ‘Acadia University’. He held the position till 1979 following which he returned back to Chicago.
- // 1989His son Dr. Charles Edward Huggins was a physician and cryobiologist who helped in developing a procedure of freezing and reusing donated red blood cells in such a way that it can be stored for almost an indefinite period. Charles succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 60 in 1989.
- // 12th Jan 1997On January 12, 1997, Huggins died at his Chicago home at the age of 95 after several years of ill-health. He is survived by his daughter Emily Wellman Huggins Fine.
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Charles Brenton Huggins's FAQ
What is Charles Brenton Huggins birthday?
Charles Brenton Huggins was born at 1901-09-22
When was Charles Brenton Huggins died?
Charles Brenton Huggins was died at 1997-01-12
Where was Charles Brenton Huggins died?
Charles Brenton Huggins was died in Chicago, Illinois
Which age was Charles Brenton Huggins died?
Charles Brenton Huggins was died at age 95
Where is Charles Brenton Huggins's birth place?
Charles Brenton Huggins was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia
What is Charles Brenton Huggins nationalities?
Charles Brenton Huggins's nationalities is Canadian, American
Who is Charles Brenton Huggins spouses?
Charles Brenton Huggins's spouses is Margaret Wellman
Who is Charles Brenton Huggins's father?
Charles Brenton Huggins's father is Charles Edward Huggins
Who is Charles Brenton Huggins's mother?
Charles Brenton Huggins's mother is Bessie Maria Spencer
What is Charles Brenton Huggins's sun sign?
Charles Brenton Huggins is Virgo
How famous is Charles Brenton Huggins?
Charles Brenton Huggins is famouse as Physician & Surgeon