Gianni Bonadonna, MD, an emeritus member of the AACR, died September 7, 2015, at the age of 81. Bonadonna, considered the “Father of Italian Oncology,” was a pioneer during the early years of cancer chemotherapy. His seminal research led to novel chemotherapy combinations for the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma and breast cancer. He had been a member of the AACR since 1969.
Bonadonna served as associate editor of Cancer Research from 1990 to 2000, and appeared on the journal’s cover in November 1982, May 1993, and August 1993.
Born July 28, 1934, in Milan, Bonadonna received his medical degree from the University of Milan. Following an internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, he returned to his native Italy and continued his career at the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan, of which he became director of the Division of Oncology.
Bonadonna was recognized for his major contributions toward the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma and breast cancer. His work led to the development of the CMF adjuvant system for breast cancer, which was a major departure from the radical mastectomy as the primary treatment at the time, and also developed the now-standard ABVD therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma.
Throughout his career, Bonadonna authored more than 550 publications in clinical oncology and several books about medicine for a lay audience. He has been recognized with myriad honors, including the AACR-Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Memorial Award.
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