The Cancer Challenge: From Knowledge To Prevention, UK

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 02 Oct 2007 - 11:00 PDT

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Medical scientists have made huge advances in the knowledge of what causes cancer, but the translation of that knowledge into its prevention remains a challenge.

This is the message Professor Andy Gescher, of the Cancer Biomarkers and Prevention Group at the University of Leicester Department of Cancer Studies will be outlining to the National Cancer Research Institute Conference in Birmingham on Tuesday 2nd October during a workshop chaired and coordinated by Professor William Steward from the same University of Leicester department.

Research on cancer prevention aims at translating epidemiological observations and findings from clinical trials and laboratory experiments into effective cancer management strategies. These strategies include disease detection, changes in behaviour and diet and chemoprevention using drugs.

Studies like the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer allow unprecedented insights into factors implicated in the causes of cancer, for example the role physical activity plays in reducing the risk of breast and colon cancer.

However, more research is needed to convert such insights into effective public preventive measures. Several controlled clinical dietary intervention studies have furnished disappointingly ambiguous or negative results.

Current dietary intervention trials have attempted to minimise ambiguities. Isolated dietary constituents are under close scrutiny as potential chemopreventive agents, also at the University of Leicester, but suitable dosage and the efficacy of the constituents when removed from the whole food still elude scientists.

There is some evidence to suggest that calcium, selenium, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) may be useful in the prevention of colorectal cancer in humans.

Recent analysis, however, has dampened the emerging enthusiasm for statins as potential cancer preventive agents. Age and gender, it seems can both affect the efficacy and susceptibility to toxicity, which underlines the importance of carefully defining risk versus benefit for specific populations.

Professor Gescher commented: "Chemopreventive intervention in relatively healthy individuals needs to continue for extended time periods, and in the light of safety concerns with respect to drugs such as NSAIDs, the search is on for novel safe and efficacious agents and mixtures."

The NCRI Cancer Conference takes place between 30th September and 3rd October at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. Further information can be found on: - http://www.ncri.org.uk/ncriconference/

About the NCRI Cancer Conference

The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference is the UK's premier forum for disseminating advances across all aspects of cancer research.

AstraZeneca is the gold sponsor for the NCRI Cancer Conference 2007.

About the NCRI

The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) was established in April 2001. It is a partnership between government, the voluntary sector and the private sector, with the primary mission of maximising patient benefit that accrues from cancer research in the UK through coordination of effort and joint planning towards an integrated national strategy for cancer research. http://www.ncri.org.uk

The NCRI consists of: The Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI); The Association for International Cancer Research; The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; Breakthrough Breast Cancer; Breast Cancer Campaign; Cancer Research UK; Department of Health; Economic and Social Research Council; Leukaemia Research Fund; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research; Macmillan Cancer Support; Marie Curie Cancer Care; The Medical Research Council; Northern Ireland Health and Personal Social Services Research & Development Office; Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation; Scottish Executive Health Department; Tenovus; Wales Office of Research and Development for Health & Social Care; Wellcome Trust; and Yorkshire Cancer Research.

University of Leicester

A member of the 1994 Group of universities that share a commitment to research excellence, high quality teaching and an outstanding student experience.

- Ranked top for student satisfaction in England (jointly with Oxford) among mainstream universities (average score of 4.4 out of 5 for overall satisfaction)
- Ranked as a Top 20 university by The Sunday Times University Guide, The Guardian University Guide and the UK Good University Guide
- One of just 23 UK universities to feature in world's top 200- Shanghai Jiao Tong International Index, 2005-07.
- Short listed University of the Year in 2007 by The Sunday Times and Short listed Higher Education Institution of the Year - THES awards 2005 and 2006
- Students' Union of the Year award 2005, short listed 2006

Founded in 1921, the University of Leicester has 19,000 students from 136 countries. Teaching in 18 subject areas has been graded Excellent by the Quality Assurance Agency- including 14 successive scores - a consistent run of success matched by just one other UK University. Leicester is world renowned for the invention of DNA Fingerprinting by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys and houses Europe's biggest academic Space Research Centre. 90% of staff are actively engaged in high quality research and 13 subject areas have been awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level. The University's research grant income places it among the top 20 UK research universities. The University employs over 3,000 people, has an annual turnover of £184m, covers an estate of 94 hectares and is engaged in a £300m investment programme- among the biggest of any UK university.

http://www.leicester.ac.uk

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