Robert B. Dickson

Abstract

Robert B. Dickson, PhD, an internationally-known breast cancer researcher, passed away Saturday, June 24th at his home. Dr. Dickson was an outstanding researcher, educator, friend, colleague, mentor and leader. His towering commitment to cancer research, especially breast cancer research, was an inspiration to all who had the privilege of working with him.

In 1987 Dr. Dickson was the first person to answer how estrogens make breast cancer grow. He showed that estrogen action is involved in inducing certain growth factors, including tumor growth factors α and β, and fibroblast growth factors. In collaboration with Marc Lippman, MD, this work was published in Science and gave rise to an important new line of research into growth factors and their relationship with hormones in the progression of cancer. More recently, Dr. Dickson’s work focused on identifying specific molecules in the invasion process and understanding the processes by which these molecules influenced the extra-cellular matrix and surrounding cells. In 1999, Dr. Dickson and members of his laboratory discovered matriptase, a transmembrane serine protease involved in angiogenesis and the progression of some epithelial cancers. While the original discovery was made in breast cancers, he also worked to understand its role in the progression of other diseases including cervical, ovarian, prostate, and thyroid cancers.

Dr. Dickson was a recognized authority on breast cancer, with encyclopedic knowledge of the relationship between hormones and growth factors in the development of the disease. He was the editor or co-author of 14 textbooks and journal issues on tumor growth factors, steroids, proteases, drugs and breast cancer, and he was the author of more than 340 scientific publications over the course of his career. From the time he joined Georgetown in 1988, he maintained an unbroken record of significant NIH funding for breast cancer research.

Born and raised in the Washington, DC area, Dr. Dickson returned there after completing his undergraduate degree at the College of William and Mary and his doctorate in pharmacology at Yale University. From 1980 until 1988 Dr. Dickson worked at the National Cancer Institute where he began his two-decade career in breast cancer research. In 1987 he became the first basic scientist to receive a tenured position in the Medicine Branch of the NCI.

After joining the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University, Dr. Dickson came into his own as a researcher and a leader. With a strong group of colleagues who had also moved from NCI, that included then-Lombardi director Dr. Lippman, Dr. Dickson helped build the cancer center to what it is today on the strength of his science, his hard work, and his compassion.

Dr. Dickson was also actively involved in the scientific community. He served on the editorial board of 11 journals and on 18 NIH and NCI study sections and review committees, as well as others for the American Cancer Society. He was a member of several government working groups and served on the advisory boards of six other institutions. Reflecting his international reputation, Dr. Dickson regularly presented at international symposia and was a member of the organizing committees for several meetings.

At Lombardi he was the driving force behind the creation of the Tumor Biology doctorate program, which has now trained over 100 PhD students. He founded the Growth Regulation of Cancer program, which coordinates the study of molecular signaling processes that contribute to cancers. He served as Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Oncology, and Associate Director for Basic Science and Education. Dr. Dickson was also co-director of the Lombardi Breast Cancer Program, the largest research program at the cancer center. In 2005 he was honored with the Cecilia Fisher Rudman Distinguished Professorship in Breast Cancer Research.

A prolific writer, excellent speaker, and outstanding mentor, Dr. Dickson is remembered around the world by his peers, collaborators, and former students. In addition to his extensive teaching responsibilities, he served as a mentor to not only students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty, but also to many of his senior colleagues.

With a smile and the unchanging question, “Is there anything you need from me today?” Dr. Dickson walked the hallways of Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. He offered his ear to everyone who needed his help, from the director to the students. He solved hundreds of problems, whether major or minor, related to his work or not. He could sit down with a colleague and from the results of just a few experiments, Dr. Dickson would envision an entire scientific paper or grant application.

“Bob Dickson is not the standard model of success, and yet he clearly was so successful,” said Dr Claudine Isaacs, co-director of the Breast Cancer Program at Lombardi. “He was one of the 100 top cited breast cancer researchers, and yet he was humble. His mission was breast cancer, not himself.”

The Dickson family has created the Robert B. Dickson Memorial Fund at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center to support future generations of breast cancer researchers through scholarship.