Five Trailblazing Scientists Who Deciphered Cancer's Deadly Secrets
Now known as the Princess of Asturias Awards, these prizes represent Spain's highest recognition of "scientific, cultural, social and humanitarian work carried out at an international level" 4 . Each award includes a €50,000 prize, a sculpture created by Joan Miró, a diploma, and an insignia .
The jury recognized these five researchers for their pioneering work in understanding cancer, noting they "lead the world in their field" and that their research represents "a significant contribution to the progress of humanity" 9 .
Scientific references to their collective work
Groundbreaking Researchers
Year of Award
Prize Money
Key Research Areas
Each of these scientists made distinctive contributions to our understanding of cancer, creating a collective portrait of this complex disease.
| Scientist | Institutional Affiliation | Key Discoveries |
|---|---|---|
| Judah Folkman | Harvard Medical School | Tumor angiogenesis (blood vessel formation) |
| Tony Hunter | Salk Institute | Tyrosine kinase enzymes and cell signaling |
| Joan Massagué | Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center | Cell proliferation controls and metastasis mechanisms |
| Bert Vogelstein | Johns Hopkins University | Molecular basis of colon cancer and mutation models |
| Robert Weinberg | Whitehead Institute, MIT | First human oncogene and tumor suppressor gene |
What made this group particularly remarkable was how their complementary research created a more complete picture of cancer. From Weinberg's discovery of the first human oncogene to Hunter's characterization of tyrosine kinases, and from Folkman's work on tumor blood supply to Massagué's investigations of metastasis and Vogelstein's models of mutation accumulation, these scientists approached the cancer problem from different angles that ultimately converged 7 9 .
How Tumors Grow Their Own Blood Supply
Perhaps one of the most accessible concepts to understand in cancer biology comes from Judah Folkman's work on angiogenesis—the process by which tumors develop their own blood supply. Before Folkman's pioneering research, scientists largely focused on cancer cells themselves, paying little attention to their relationship with their biological environment.
Folkman proposed a revolutionary concept: tumors cannot grow beyond a tiny size without developing their own blood vessels to supply oxygen and nutrients. This insight led to the development of anti-angiogenesis therapy—treatments designed to starve tumors by cutting off their blood supply 9 .
Researchers implanted small pieces of tumor tissue into isolated organs or the corneas of laboratory animals, where no blood vessels normally grow.
Scientists observed the implantation sites over days and weeks, documenting any changes in blood vessel growth patterns.
The team extracted chemical factors from tumor cells and tested their ability to stimulate blood vessel growth in controlled environments.
Through multiple rounds of biochemical purification, researchers isolated the specific proteins responsible for triggering angiogenesis.
Finally, they developed antibodies and compounds to block these factors and tested their ability to inhibit tumor growth in animal models.
Folkman's experiments demonstrated that tumors release specific chemical signals that stimulate the growth of new blood vessels toward the tumor mass. This process, which he termed "tumor angiogenesis," proved essential for tumors to grow beyond 1-2 millimeters and for cancer cells to enter circulation and spread to other organs 9 .
The identification of these angiogenic factors—primarily Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)—and the subsequent development of drugs to block them validated Folkman's once-controversial hypothesis that cutting off a tumor's blood supply could effectively treat cancer. This approach has since become a cornerstone of modern cancer therapy, with anti-angiogenic drugs now used against numerous cancer types 9 .
| Drug Name | Cancer Applications | Mechanism of Action |
|---|---|---|
| Bevacizumab | Colorectal, lung, kidney, glioblastoma | Monoclonal antibody targeting VEGF |
| Sunitinib | Kidney, gastrointestinal stromal tumors | Tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting VEGF receptors |
| Sorafenib | Kidney, liver | Multikinase inhibitor including anti-angiogenic activity |
| Pazopanib | Soft tissue sarcoma, kidney | Multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor |
Essential Resources for Cancer Research
Tools to detect and measure the activity of these crucial enzymes discovered by Tony Hunter. These assays use specific antibodies and substrates that change color or emit light when phosphorylated by kinase activity, allowing researchers to screen potential inhibitory drugs 9 .
Compounds that block the formation of new blood vessels. These include endostatin and angiostatin discovered in Folkman's lab, which became prototypes for developing anti-angiogenesis therapies that starve tumors of oxygen and nutrients 9 .
Advanced methods for reading the DNA code of cancer cells. Vogelstein utilized these techniques to identify sequential mutations in colon cancer, establishing the model now applied to many cancer types 9 .
Collections of known cancer-related genes that researchers like Weinberg used to identify the first human oncogene and tumor suppressor genes, fundamental to understanding how normal cells turn cancerous 7 .
Specially designed systems for growing cancer cells in the laboratory. Massagué employed sophisticated culture techniques to study how cancer cells invade and metastasize, leading to insights about the molecular mechanisms of spread to other organs 9 .
Genetically engineered mice and other laboratory animals that develop human-like cancers. These allow researchers to test hypotheses about cancer development and potential treatments in living systems before human trials 9 .
The Lasting Impact of Their Research
The collective work of these five scientists has fundamentally transformed how we understand and treat cancer. Their research moved the field beyond generic chemotherapy and radiation toward precision medicine—treatments tailored to the specific genetic and molecular characteristics of a patient's cancer.
"The Prince of Asturias Award is one of the most prestigious that the world has to offer, and I am flattered beyond words at this recognition. People like myself work in the research laboratory because it is fascinating and may one day help human suffering, and so recognition like this is unexpected and persuades one that the fruits of one's labor are recognized beyond the narrow confines of research laboratories" 7 .
The journey from their fundamental discoveries to clinical applications exemplifies how basic scientific research—driven by curiosity about how nature works—can ultimately lead to transformative medical advances. While cancer remains a formidable challenge, the frameworks established by these five Prince of Asturias laureates have provided the scientific foundation for decades of progress, offering both hope and tangible benefits to patients worldwide.
Their work continues to inspire new generations of researchers to build upon these discoveries, developing increasingly sophisticated strategies to detect cancers earlier, treat them more effectively, and ultimately prevent them from claiming lives. As the jury noted in bestowing this award, these scientists represent "exemplary, unquestionable leadership" in the ongoing global effort to conquer cancer 9 .
| Research Area | Key Discoveries | Therapeutic Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Oncogenes/Tumor Suppressors | First human oncogene (Weinberg), p53 (Vogelstein) | Targeted therapies, gene profiling |
| Signal Transduction | Tyrosine kinases (Hunter) | Kinase inhibitors (imatinib, erlotinib) |
| Tumor Microenvironment | Angiogenesis (Folkman) | Anti-angiogenic drugs (bevacizumab) |
| Metastasis | TGF-β pathways (Massagué) | Emerging anti-metastasis treatments |
| Cancer Genetics | Sequential mutation model (Vogelstein) | Genetic screening, personalized prevention |