Dr Chang W. Song was the recipient of the first International Association of Hyperthermic Oncology Tsudomu Sugahara Award at the tenth International Congress of Hyperthermic Oncology, held in Munich, Germany, April 9–12, 2008. The list of accomplishments of Dr Song in the field of hyperthermic oncology over the past 30 years clearly demonstrates why he was selected for this honorable award.
Dr Song has been keenly interested in how the tumor microenvironment interfaces with hyperthermia treatment. He published some of the very first papers describing how hyperthermia treatment influences tumor and normal tissue perfusion/oxygenation. The early work demonstrated that the vasculature of tumors tends to be much more thermally sensitive than that of normal tissue and that in both kinds of tissue the physiological response and thermal damage are highly related to temperature and time of heating. He also reported the first paper showing that microvascular function is subject to thermotolerance. His pivotal research showing that mild temperature hyperthermia is an effective method to improve tumor oxygenation and subsequent efficacy when combined with radiotherapy established a new rationale for thermoradiotherapy combinations. These observations provided a rationale for how hyperthermia is practiced today, when combined with radiotherapy.
He has also pioneered the concept of devising methods to increase thermal sensitivity of tumor cells. He was one of the primary drivers in the idea of acutely acidifying tumor cells as a means to achieve enhanced thermal cell kill. In more recent years he has promoted the concept of using vascular targeting drugs such as arsenic trioxide to enhance thermal cell killing.
He has published nearly 260 papers, attesting to his productivity over the span of his career and has mentored many fine scientists who have carried on his tradition in their own careers. In recognition of his scientific leadership Dr Song was given an NIH Merit Award in 1988. These awards are given to those scientists who consistently achieve outstanding ranking for NIH grant applications. Only a very small percentage of NIH grant recipients receive such prestigious awards.
Although his research accomplishments are unparalleled, these alone do not adequately honor him. It has been what he has done for the hyperthermia community in the United States and the world that sets him apart from all other scientists. Dr Song has been one of the strongest advocates for hyperthermia in the past 30+ years. He has worked tirelessly at the national and international level to promote awareness of the importance of this emerging field of oncology. Attesting to this are his prior membership on the NIH review panel that reviews virtually all hyperthermia-related grants in the United States and his expertise as an associate editor for several journals, including the International Journal of Hyperthermia. Dr Song served as President for the Society for Thermal Medicine in 1994 and received the Eugene Robinson Award from that Society in 2000. Dr Song has been an extremely effective liaison with colleagues in Japan, China and Korea. These relationships have fostered effective communications between the three main societies in this field and with the IAHO. Together with Dr Sugahara, Dr Song was heavily involved in the organization of the Kadota International Forum on Hyperthermic Oncology, which served to provide a consensus and directions for the future of our field Citation[1], Citation[2]. He has been recognized for his international efforts–he is an honorary member of the Japanese Society for Hyperthermic Oncology and is an honorary Professor and Director of Radiation Oncology at the Xian Cancer Center, Xian, China.
Dr Song received his BSc in Chemistry from National University, Seoul, Korea in 1957 and his PhD in Radiation Biology from the University of Iowa in 1964. Following faculty appointments at the Albert Einstein Medical Center and the Medical College of Virginia, Dr Song became Director of Radiobiology at the University of Minnesota in 1970 and rose to the rank of full Professor in 1978. He recently ‘retired’ to assume the status of Emeritus Professor. I can personally attest to the fact that he is still working and thoroughly enjoying his research in his retirement! I applaud his efforts on behalf of our field and look forward to many more years of interacting with him as a friend and colleague. On behalf of the Journal, I congratulate him on being the recipient of this highly prestigious award.
Mark Dewhirst, DVM, PhD
Editor-in-Chief International Journal of Hyperthermia
Email: [email protected]
References
- Sugahara T, van der Zee J, Kampinga HH, Vujaskovic Z, Kondo M, Ohnishi T, Li G, Park HJ, Leeper DB, Ostapenko V, et al. and The Kadota Fund International Forum 2004. Application of thermal stress for the improvement of health, Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center, Awaji Island, Hyogo, Japan, 15–18 June 2004. Final report. Int J Hyperthermia 2008; 24: 123–140
- van der Zee J, Vujaskovic Z, Kondo M, Sugahara T. The Kadota Fund International Forum 2004 - Clinical group consensus. Int J Hyperthermia 2008; 24: 111–122