Remarkable progress, but cancer won't be cured in the near future: Siddhartha Mukherjee at HTLS
Oncologist and author Siddhartha Mukherjee said several cancers of the intestinal tract and the stomach "are really quite endemic" in India
Siddhartha Mukherjee, oncologist and author, stated at the 24th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit that cancer will not be cured in the near future despite remarkable progress against certain forms of the disease. He highlighted the complexity of the challenge, noting that every cancer is unique. Mukherjee praised recent breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer drug development but emphasized that curing all cancers in one go is unrealistic.
He also addressed concerns about the potential overshadowing of fundamental scientific fields by AI in medicine, explaining that while AI helps cell therapy, immunotherapy, and synthetic biology, commercial interests often divert funding from these areas. Mukherjee called for regulatory counterbalance to ensure continued support for basic sciences.
He referenced Vannevar Bush's vision of basic science as the foundation for all disciplines, warning that disrupting this bedrock could have long-term consequences. Mukherjee discussed gene editing's potential, particularly in diseases like sickle cell anemia, but cautioned against its misuse for enhancing human abilities due to the risk of creating societal divides. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of clear communication in scientific discourse.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
