Hey, it's Flora Lichtenen, and you're listening to Science Friday.

Today in the show, how one researcher's persistence has changed cancer treatment.

In cancer, you might think of the tumor like a seed of misbehaving cells taking root in the body.

And whether it grows and where it grows

depends on the conditions, the soil. This seed and soil hypothesis has been around for more than

100 years, and for most of that time, research and treatment has been focused on the seed,

the tumor. My next guest has spent nearly 50 seed, the tumor.

My next guest has spent nearly 50 years studying the soil.

He argues that just like in a garden, the more you know about the soil, the better you

understand how the seed will grow.

His research has often gone against the grain and sometimes led to his colleagues avoiding

him in the halls, he says.

The work has also led to seven FDA-approved treatments for diseases including lung and liver

cancer and earned him a National Medal of Science in 2016.

Now Dr. Rakesh Jain studies the biology of tumors at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts

General Hospital.

Rakesh, welcome to Science Friday.

Thank you so much, Flora.

I'm a big fan of yours, so I feel very honored that you've chosen to speak with me today.

Thank you.

That's too kind.

Thank you for joining us.

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