Virgil Craig Jordan, , (July 25, 1947 – June 9, 2024) was an American and British scientist specializing in drugs for breast cancer treatment and prevention. He was Professor of Breast Medical Oncology, and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Oncology at the University of Texas

MD Anderson Cancer Center The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (colloquially MD Anderson Cancer Center) is a comprehensive cancer center and autonomous university of the University of Texas System in Houston, Texas. It is the largest cancer center in the wo ...

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

. Previously, he was Scientific Director and Vice Chairman of Oncology at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center of

Georgetown University Georgetown University is a private university, private Jesuit research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic higher education, Ca ...

. Jordan was the first to discover the

breast cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...

prevention properties of

tamoxifen Tamoxifen, sold under the brand name Nolvadex among others, is a selective estrogen receptor modulator used to prevent breast cancer in women and men. It is also being studied for other types of cancer. It has been used for Albright syndrome ...

and the scientific principles for adjuvant therapy with antihormones. His later work branched out into the prevention of multiple diseases in women with the discovery of the drug group,

selective estrogen receptor modulator Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), also known as estrogen receptor agonists/antagonists (ERAAs), are a class of drugs that act on estrogen receptors (ERs). Compared to pure ER agonists–antagonists (e.g., full agonists and silent ...

(SERMs). He later worked on developing a new Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for post-menopausal women that prevents breast cancer and does not increase the risk of breast cancer. Jordan's paper ''The Effect of Raloxifene on Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women: Results from the More Randomized Trial'' was one of the top 20 most cited papers in breast cancer research during 2003 and 2004.

Early life

Born in

New Braunfels, Texas New Braunfels ( ) is a city in Comal County, Texas, Comal and Guadalupe County, Texas, Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat of Comal County. The city covers and had a population of 90,403 as of the 2020 United Sta ...

, Jordan moved to England with his family as a child. He went to school at Moseley Hall Grammar School in

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shrop ...

before attending the

University of Leeds The University of Leeds is a public research university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1874 as the Yorkshire College of Science. In 1884, it merged with the Leeds School of Medicine (established 1831) and was renamed Y ...

where he received BSc,

PhD A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

and

DSc DSC or Dsc may refer to: Education * Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) * District Selection Committee, an entrance exam in India * Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Educational institutions * Dyal Sin ...

degrees in pharmacology.

Research career

Jordan began working on the structure-activity of anti-estrogens as part of his PhD program at Leeds University. During that time, he met Arthur Walpole, the patent holder for the drug that became

. In September 1972, Jordan became a visiting scientist at the

Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology The Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research (WFBR) was a non-profit biomedical research institute based in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, United States. History The foundation was established as an independent research center under the name Worces ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

. While there he began researching the idea that tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), could block estrogen receptors in breast tumors. Estrogen receptors in breast tumors attract estrogen which is then absorbed into the cancerous cell and encourages the cell to divide, causing the cancer to grow. Until this time, the treatment for this type of breast cancer was

oophorectomy Oophorectomy (; from Greek , , 'egg-bearing' and , , 'a cutting out of'), historically also called ''ovariotomy'', is the surgical removal of an ovary or ovaries. The surgery is also called ovariectomy, but this term is mostly used in reference ...

. Jordan returned to Leeds University as a lecturer in Pharmacology between 1974 and 1979, after which he spent one year at Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research at the

University of Bern The University of Bern (, , ) is a public university, public research university in the Switzerland, Swiss capital of Bern. It was founded in 1834. It is regulated and financed by the canton of Bern. It is a comprehensive university offering a br ...

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

. In 1980, Jordan joined the

University of Wisconsin–Madison The University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, UW, UW–Madison, or simply Madison) is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. It was founded in 1848 when Wisconsin achieved st ...

where he started to look at the effects of tamoxifen and another SERM, raloxifene, on bone density and coronary systems. This was needed because of the concern that long term use of SERMs could lead to

osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass, micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to more porous bone, and consequent increase in Bone fracture, fracture risk. It is the most common reason f ...

and

heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina pectoris, angina, myocardial infarction, heart attack), heart failure, ...

. Jordan's research showed that post-menopausal women who took these drugs did not suffer from a lowering of bone density or an increase in blood cholesterol. Raloxifene is now used in the prevention of osteoporosis. Jordan gained a full Professorship at Wisconsin in 1985, the same year his

alma mater Alma mater (; : almae matres) is an allegorical Latin phrase meaning "nourishing mother". It personifies a school that a person has attended or graduated from. The term is related to ''alumnus'', literally meaning 'nursling', which describes a sc ...

awarded him a DSc. In 1993, Jordan became Professor of Cancer Pharmacology at

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

Medical School in Chicago, IL., and director of the Breast Cancer Research Program at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. He was the inaugural holder of the Diana Princess of Wales Professor of Cancer Research (1999–2004). He was appointed

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(OBE) in the

2002 Birthday Honours Queen's Birthday Honours are announced on or around the date of the Queen's Official Birthday in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The dates vary, both from year to year and from country to country. All are published in sup ...

for services to international breast cancer research. In January 2005, Jordan was the inaugural Alfred G. Knudson Chair of Cancer Research at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA. He has recently published work showing that estrogen, given at the right time, causes the destruction of cancer cells rather than feeding their growth. Jordan was the Scientific Director of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Professor of Oncology and Pharmacology, Vice Chair of the Department of Oncology, and the Vincent T. Lombardi Chair of Translational Cancer Research, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., prior to moving to Texas. Jordan was appointed

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince of Wales (the future King George IV), while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George I ...

(CMG) in the

2019 Birthday Honours The 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as ...

for services to women's health.

Personal life and national service

Jordan was the father of two daughters, Helen and Alexandra. Military Service: Captain Intelligence Corps (V) (On the staff of the Deputy Chief Scientist (Army) UK (1971–75)), Attached NBC Officer Region 1 US Mobilization Designee, DEA Officers' Course and UK Police Narcotics Squad Training (1973–78), 23 Special Air Service (1975–79) (Commanding Officer Rory Walker (1975-1978)),(Commanding Officer Tony Hunter-Choat(1978-1979)), (Director SAS Group, Brigadier Johnny Watts (1975-1979)), RARO SAS (1979–97). SAS Regimental Association (2008–present). Jordan died of kidney cancer at his home in Houston, on June 9, 2024, at the age of 76.

Awards

2020 Honorary

Doctor of Science A Doctor of Science (; most commonly abbreviated DSc or ScD) is a science doctorate awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. Africa Algeria and Morocco In Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Tunisia, all universities accredited by the s ...

degree from the

2019

(CMG) for services to women's healthcare. 201
Louis S. Goodman and Alfred Gilman Award in Receptor Pharmacology
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 2011 St. Gallen Prize for Clinical Breast Cancer Research, Switzerland 2008 David A. Karnofsky Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2006

American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. The ACS publishes the journals ''Cancer'', '' CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians'' and '' Cancer Cytopathology''. History The society w ...

Award and Lecture from the American Society for Clinical Oncology. 2003

Kettering Prize The Charles F. Kettering Prize was a US$250,000 award given by the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation for the most outstanding recent contribution to the diagnosis or treatment of cancer. __TOC__ History The award was named in honor of Ch ...

2002

Medal of Honor for basic research. 2002 made an Officer of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

for services to international breast cancer research. 2001 Umberto Veronesi Award for the Future Fight Against Breast Cancer (2001) 2001 Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Cancer Research. 2001 Doctor of Medicine, honoris causa from the University of Leeds 1993 Cameron Prize for Therapeutics of the University of Edinburgh 199
ASPET Award
from the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 1993 The Gaddum Memorial Award from the

British Pharmacological Society The British Pharmacological Society is the primary UK learned society for Pharmacology, pharmacologists, concerned with research into drugs and the ways in which they work. Members work in academia, industry, regulatory agencies, and the health se ...

1992 Brinker International Breast Cancer Award for Basic Science from Susan G. Komen for the Cure.Komen.org web page on the ''93rd annual meeting of the AACR'', dated April 7, 200

Retrieved August 22, 2006

Books

*''Tamoxifen-Pioneering Medicine in Breast Cancer'' by Philipp Y. Maximov, Russell E. McDaniel and V. Craig Jordan (2013). Milestones in Drug Therapy Series. Springer Basel AG, Basal, Switzerland. *''Estrogen Action, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators and Women’s Health: Progress and Promise'' edited by V. Craig Jordan (2013) Imperial College Press / World Scientific, London.

Top cited publications

Total Citations as of January 11, 2021: 59,204 h-index score as of January 11, 2021: 122 * (1,778 citations as of May 25, 2021). * (816 citations as of May 26, 2021). * (962 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Vogel, V.G., Costantino, J.P., Wickerham, D.L., Cronin, W.M., Cecchini, R.S., Atkins, J.N., Bevers, T.B., Fehrenbacher, L., Pajon (jr), E.R., Wade, J.L. III, Robidoux, A., Margolese, R.G., James, J., Lippman, S.M., Runowicz, C.D., Ganz, P.A., Reis, S.E., McCaskill-Stevens, W., Ford, L.G., Jordan, V.C. and Wolmark, N. Effects of tamoxifen vs raloxifene on the risk of developing invasive breast cancer and other disease outcomes: the NSABP Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) P-2 trial" ''Journal of the American Medical Association'' 295:2727-41, 2006. (1,323 citations as of May 26, 2021). * (662 citations as of May 26, 2021). * (407 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jordan, V.C., Collins, M.M., Rowsby L. and Prestwich, G. A monohydroxylated metabolite of tamoxifen with potent antioestrogenic activity. Journal of Endocrinology 75:305-316, 1977. (441 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jordan, V.C. and Murphy, C. S. Endocrine pharmacology of antiestrogens as antitumor agents. Endocrine Reviews 11:578-610, 1990. (494 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Cauley, J. A., Norton, L., Lippman, M. E., Eckert, S., Krueger, K. A., Purdie, D. W., Farrerons, J., Karasik, A., Mellstrom, D., Ng, K. W., Stepan, J. J., Powles, T. J., Morrow, M., Costa, A., Silfen, S. L., Walls, E. L., Schmitt, H., Muchmore, D. B. and Jordan, V. C. Continued breast cancer risk reduction in postmenopausal women treated with raloxifene: 4-year results from the MORE trial. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 65: 125–134, 2001. (623 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Lerner, L.J. and Jordan, V.C. Development of antiestrogens and their use in breast cancer (Eighth Cain Memorial award lecture)" ''Cancer Research'' 50:4177-4189, 1990. (421 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Gottardis, M.M., Robinson, S. P., Satyaswaroop, P.G. and Jordan, V.C. Contrasting actions of tamoxifen on endometrial and breast tumor growth in the athymic mouse" ''Cancer Research'' 48:812-815, 1988. (389 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Gottardis, M.M. and Jordan, V.C. Development of tamoxifen-stimulated growth of MCF 7 tumors in athymic mice after long-term antiestrogen administration" ''Cancer Research'' 48:5183-5187, 1988. (386 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jordan, V.C. Effect of tamoxifen (ICI 46,474) on initiation and growth of DMBA-induced rat mammary carcinomata. European Journal of Cancer 12:419-424, 1976. (337 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Love, R.R., Wiebe, D. A., Newcomb, P.A., Cameron, L., Leventhal, H., Jordan, V.C., Feyzi, J. and DeMets, D. L. Effects of tamoxifen on cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women" ''Annals of Internal Medicine'' 115:860-864, 1991. (327 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Gottardis, M. M. and Jordan, V.C. The antitumor actions of keoxifene (raloxifene) and tamoxifen in the N nitrosomethylurea-induced rat mammary carcinoma model" ''Cancer Research'' 47:4020-4024, 1987. (313 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Love, R.R., Newcomb, P.A., Wiebe, D. A., Surawicz, T.S., Jordan, V.C., Carbone, P.P. and DeMets, D.L. Effects of tamoxifen therapy on lipid and lipoprotein levels in postmenopausal patients with node-negative breast cancer. Journal of National Cancer Institute 82:1327 1331, 1990. (282 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jordan, V.C., Phelps, E. and Lindgren J.U. Effects of antiestrogens on bone in castrated and intact female rats. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 10:31-35, 1987. (276 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jiang, S.Y. and Jordan, V.C. Growth regulation of estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells transfected with cDNA's for estrogen receptor" ''Journal of the National Cancer Institute'' 84:580-591, 1992. (241 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jordan, V.C. Antiestrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators as multifunctional medicines. Part I: Receptor interactions" ''Journal of Medicinal Chemistry'' 46:883-908, 2003. (369 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jordan, V.C. Antiestrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators as multifunctional medicines. Part II: Clinical considerations and new agents" ''Journal of Medicinal Chemistry'' 46:1081-1111, 2003. (250 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Gottardis, M.M., Jiang, S.Y., Jeng, M.H. and Jordan, V.C. Inhibition of tamoxifen-stimulated growth of an MCF-7 tumor variant in athymic mice by novel steroidal antiestrogens" ''Cancer Research'' 49:4090-4093, 1989. (233 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Pink, J.J. and Jordan, V.C. Models of estrogen receptor regulation by estrogens and antiestrogens in breast cancer cell lines" ''Cancer Research'' 56:2321-2330, 1996. (244 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Trump, D.L., Smith, D.C., Ellis, P.G., Rogers, M.P., Schold, S.C., Winer, E.P., Ponella, T.J., Jordan, V.C. and Fine, R.L. High dose oral tamoxifen, a potential multidrug resistance reversal agent: Phase I trial in combination with vinblastine" ''Journal of the National Cancer Institute'' 84:1811-1816, 1992. (210 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jordan, V.C. A current view of tamoxifen for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer (Gaddum Memorial Lecture)" ''British Journal of Pharmacology'' 110:507-517, 1993. (257 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jordan, V.C. and Morrow, M.M. Tamoxifen, raloxifene and the prevention of breast cancer. Endocrine Reviews 20:253-278, 1999. (113 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jordan, V.C. Tamoxifen: a most unlikely pioneering medicine. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 2:205-213, 2003. (493 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jordan, V.C. and Allen, K.E. Evaluation of the antitumour activity of the nonsteroidal antioestrogen monohydroxytamoxifen in the DMBA-induced rat mammary carcinoma model. European Journal of Cancer 16:239-251, 1980. (199 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jensen, E.V. and Jordan, V.C. The estrogen receptor: a model for molecular medicine" ''Clinical Cancer Research'' 9:1980-1989, 2003. (347 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Robinson, S.P., Langan-Fahey, S.M., Johnson, D.A. and Jordan, V.C. Metabolites, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen in rats and mice compared to the breast cancer patient. Drug Metabolism and Disposition 19:36-43, 1991. (230 citations as of May 26, 2021). *Jordan, V.C. Selective estrogen receptor modulation: concept and consequences in cancer" ''Cancer Cell'' 5:207-213, 2004. (256 citations as of May 26, 2021).

References

External links

ASBMB Today, July 2003
PDF), Page 6. Retrieved August 22, 2006

retrieved August 22, 2006
US Department of Health HealthFinder website; Low dose estrogen may fight breast cancer
retrieved August 22, 2006

Retrieved August 22, 2006 * ttp://www.fccc.edu/news/2005/Jordan-Joins-FC-01-03-05.html Fox Chase Cancer Center press release ''V. Craig Jordan Joins Fox Chase Cancer Center'', January 3, 2005 Retrieved August 22, 2006
Observer Online, Northwestern University, ''Jordan receives OBE from Queen Elizabeth II'', April 3, 2003
Retrieved August 23, 2006
Texas A&M Health Science Center Extra, ''IBT Hosts Ninth Annual Kelsey Lecture'', November 5, 2004
Retrieved August 23, 2006
Tamoxifen: Pioneering Medicine in Breast Cancer
Retrieved November 6, 2013
Estrogen Action, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators and Women's Health Progress and Promise
Retrieved November 6, 2013 {{DEFAULTSORT:Jordan, V. Craig 1947 births 2024 deaths Alumni of the University of Leeds Academics of the University of Leeds Officers of the Order of the British Empire American pharmacologists People from New Braunfels, Texas University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center faculty Feinberg School of Medicine faculty Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George English pharmacologists American emigrants to England Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences Members of the National Academy of Medicine Fox Chase Cancer Center people Special Air Service officers Intelligence Corps officers