Lorenzo Tomatis
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Lorenzo (Renzo) Tomatis (Sassoferrato, Italy, 2 January 1929–Lyon, France, 21 September 2007) was an Italian physician and experimental oncologist who researched carcinogenesis and its primary prevention
Tomatis served as the Director from 1982 until 1993 of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). During his tenure at IARC, Tomatis led the effort to create the IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans (the so-called “orange books”), a tool for the primary prevention of cancer.
Tomatis produced over 350 publications and 10 books. He developed essays on carcinogenesis bioassays which recognized trans-placental and trans-generational carcinogenics, thus highlighting the vulnerabilities of early-life exposure.
Tomatis translated many animal experimental findings to human risk. He used these many qualifications to promote health strategies for the primary prevention of cancer—that is, reduced exposure to carcinogens.
In addition Tomatis also studied the sociology of science, especially the causes of the 'brain drain' from Italy.
Tomatis was born in Sassoferrato, Italy He graduated from the University of Turin with a degree in medicine in 1953 and with a degree in hygiene and preventive medicine in 1955. After a brief stint as a medical officer with a regiment of Italian Army Alpine troops, he obtained a degree in occupational health in 1957—his interest in the role of chemicals as potential causes of cancer having become evident.
In 1959, Tomatis joined Phillipe Shubik's team at the Division of Oncology in the Chicago Medical School. "According to Shubik:
"He was a careful and thoughtful investigator who was able to think of probable advances before many others. He organized a tissue culture laboratory in my department before this field had achieved its present importance."[1]
By 1965 Tomatis was studying neonatal responses to carcinogen exposure. In 1967, he joined the World Health Organization's (WHO) newly established cancer agency, IARC in Lyon, France. There he formed the Unit of Chemical Carcinogenesis, concentrated on planning and implementing primary prevention of cancer through the identification of carcinogens. To date some 100 Monographs covering well over 1,000 agents have provided objective expert evaluation of the totality of evidence on the carcinogenicity of agents, mixtures, and their exposure circumstances.
IARC tenure
Their first volume of the IARC Monographs in 1972 had instantaneous and enduring impact throughout the world. In fact, IARC quickly became known predominantly for the IARC Monographs. They came to be seen as one of two 'gold standard' carcinogenicity programmes (the other being the US NTP's animal testing program, so IARC's is the only one that evaluates the totality of evidence). Peers have said of them: "To [maintain] the series for 20 years at such a high level is an unprecedented achievement" and: "...A box of jewels of the knowledge of mankind on chemical carcinogenesis."[1]
The success of the IARC Monographs rested in part in the impartiality process initiated by Tomatis and his staff, who for each Monograph created working groups of independent scientists with deep knowledge of chemical carcinogenesis, to evaluate all available information on an agent; emphasizing their impartiality and transparency. Their conclusions were thus reliable enough to base government decisions on the primary prevention of cancer. Indeed, an agent's IARC classification as a carcinogen has been the basis of innumerable actions and proposals (not all successful) to stop and reduce exposure to chemicals.
In January 1982, in recognition of his outstanding career and contributions in understanding cancer causation and prevention, Tomatis was elected by the WHO member nations as the second director of IARC. He was reelected, serving as director for a full 12 years until retirement in December 1993. Throughout his tenure at IARC, Tomatis and the international IARC staff developed a mutual respect and appreciation for each other, unified in promoting the agency's mission of improving public health through primary disease prevention.
