Attachment R

Memorandum from Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery to
the Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, July 24, 1953

BUMED-714C:ju Serial 0741 24 July 1953

From: Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

To: Chief, Bureau of Aeronautics

Subj: Utilization of radioactive iron powder particles for
radiation therapy of cancer tumors; information pertaining
thereto

Ref: (a) BuAer conf ltr Aer-IP, ser 09755 of 12 June 1953 with 2
encl

1. Critical review of the enclosures to reference (a), and
scientific data pertinent thereto, resulted in the following
conclusions:

a. It has been shown that particles in the order of magnitude of
0.02 micron are extremely rapidly removed from the blood stream
and deposited in the liver and spleen, this deposition being
independent of the element of which the colloid is composed. It
can be predicted, therefore, that in less than ten minutes most
of the 0.02 micron particles would be out of the blood stream,
and further that a magnetic force could not alter this
deposition.

b. The proposal assumes that particulate material can be
accumulated in a cancer. This Bureau has investigated this
possibility and was unable to learn that any work supports this
assumption.

c. The proposal implies that the tumors selected should be highly
vascular and radiosensitive. Most radiosensitive tumors are not
well vascularised.

d. The program proposed is exceedingly ambitious and, if at all
practicable, would require direction by an experienced worker in
cancer. The qualifications of the originator of this proposal are
unknown to this Bureau.

2. In view of the above, insofar as the Navy is concerned, it is
felt that no further investigation of the subject named proposal
is indicated.

3. In any event, studies of cancer are not considered to be in
the province of the Medical Department of the Navy. Work of this
sort, insofar as federal agencies are concerned, should be
referred to the National Cancer Institute of the Public Health
Service, Department of Health, Welfare and Education.

O. D. YARBROUGH
By direction