Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Houston, Texas, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1994-06-03

Duration: 00:11:55

Subjects: Health | Cancer | Scientific research

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Chapa, Arcie Reporter
• Vardeman, Dana Interviewee
• Giovanella, Beppino Interviewee
• Moore, Tracy Interviewee
• Carpenter, Stanley Interviewee
• Moerschbaecher, Joseph Interviewee
• Fischer, Nikolaus Interviewee

This segment from the June 3, 1994, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Arcie Chapa’s report on a promising cancer treatment using camptothecins, an alkaloid found on Chinese trees called camptotheca acuminata. Chapa first visits the Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston, Texas, and learns about their research into cancer treatments using camptothecins and hairless mice. She interviews Dana Vardeman, laboratory supervisor, and Dr. Beppino Giovanella, laboratory director. Chapa then returns to Louisiana and visits Tracy Moore, a cancer survivor and forestry consultant, to learn more about his efforts to grow the camptotheca acuminata trees in Louisiana. She also interviews: Dr. Stanley Carpenter, LSU AgCenter; Dr. Joseph Moerschbaecher, LSU Medical Center; and Dr. Nikolaus Fischer, LSU chemistry professor. Host: Robert Collins