The Veterans Administration's chief of cancer research said here today he has isolated a virus which he believes is the cause of leukemia,
Dr, Ludwik Gross, Bronx, N.j Y., said his research also indicates that leukemia results from a "multi-virus" condition. In this condition the leukemia virus
—which is slightly larger than the polio virus—is active only when coupled with other unknown viruses.
"THERE IS good evidence to believe the leukemia virus becomes active when it reaches a balance with other viruses," he said.
Dr. Gross, here for the first biennial Louisiana Cancer Conference at the LSU medi-ca1 school, explained that his tentative conclusions w np reached through experiments with mice.
The Polish-born scientist said leukemia—c o m m o n 1 y called "cancer of the blood"—is extremely similar in mice and humans.
Other speakers at today's session were to include Harr^ Mc-Enerny, Jr., president, Louisiana Division, Inc., American Cancer Society; Robert L. Sim-| tnons, LSU profes*sor of public j health and preventive medicine; Dr. Jerome T. Syverton, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota medical school.
