The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is deeply saddened by the loss of Alfred G. Knudson, Jr., MD, PhD, a pioneering cancer researcher who is internationally recognised for his groundbreaking “two-hit” hypothesis, which helped provide the basis for our current understanding of the genetic origins of cancer.

Knudson, who passed away July 10, at 93 years of age, was elected as an inaugural Fellow of the AACR Academy.

“The AACR and the cancer research world as a whole has lost a true visionary with the passing of Dr. Knudson. He proposed the two-hit hypothesis many years before the molecular technologies needed to experimentally test and confirm it were even available,” said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), chief executive officer of the AACR. “Since then, Dr. Knudson’s remarkable research has become the bedrock on which our understanding of cancer biology is built, and it continues to have important implications for future progress against cancer.”

Knudson was a world-renowned cancer geneticist and physician who treated children with retinoblastoma, a rare type of cancer.

He proposed the two-hit hypothesis in 1971 to explain the relationship between the hereditary and nonhereditary forms of retinoblastoma, 15 years before molecular technologies were available to compare genetic differences between tumours in patients with hereditary versus sporadic cancers.

Knudson’s scientific accomplishments have been widely recognised.

He was the recipient of the  Charles S. Mott General Motors Cancer Research Foundation Prize in 1988, the American Cancer Society Medal of Honour in 1989, the Canada Gairdner International Award in 1997, the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research in 1998, the Distinguished Career Award from the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology in 1999, the Kyoto Prize in 2004, the Bristol-Myers Squibb Freedom to Discover Award for Distinguished Achievement in Cancer Research in 2005, and the AACR Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

Knudson was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1992 and was elected an inaugural Fellow of the AACR Academy in 2013.

The esteem with which the cancer research community has held Knudson over the many years of his stellar career is highlighted by the fact that the journal Genes, Chromosomes & Cancer devoted its entire December 2003 issue to his work and that he appeared on the cover of AACR’s flagship journal Cancer Research four times.

In addition to his academic and research contributions, Knudson was an active member of the AACR since 1976, serving as associate editor of Cancer Research from 1985 to 2000 and the editorial board of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention from 1991 to 1998.

Additionally, he was a member of the 2012 AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research Committee.

Beyond his many achievements as a distinguished researcher and renowned leader of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Knudson was well known for his passionate commitment to mentoring students, fellows, early-career scientists, and senior investigators.

His selfless dedication to mentorship helped inspire generations of leaders in the field of cancer research.

Knudson is survived by his wife, Anna Meadows, MD, emeritus member of the AACR and emeritus professor of paediatrics and medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also survived by six children and stepchildren, 10 grandchildren and step grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Source: AACR