What is cancer?

Cancer is a group of diseases in which cells divide without respect to normal limits, invade and destroy adjacent tissues, and spread to other locations in the body. According to the American Cancer Society, 7.6 million people died from cancer in the world during 2007.

How does cancer occur?

Cancer occurs when the DNA sequence within a gene is altered that the gene no longer instructs the cell to produce protein. Scientists call this a mutation within the gene. Such alterations occur more frequently if a gene is exposed to radiation, drugs, or chemicals. Mutations cause certain genes to transform into oncogenes (cancer-causing genes), while others (genes that supress cancer, called anti-oncogenes) may be rendered useless. Inactivation of anti-oncogenes is like a car driving in the wrong direction on a highway that causes mayhem.

If an anti-oncogene has been rendered inactive, the cell containing it can no longer produce a normal protein whose function is to suppress cancer. On some rare occasions, a normal cell becomes cancerous when a particular virus enters the cell and introduces an oncogene into the genome of the host cell. Once any of these deviations in normal protein production and/or function has occurred, the size, shape, surface characteristics, or morphology and behavior of the cell becomes altered. Thus, it becomes a cancer cell that is distinguishable from a normal cell.

X-ray showing lung cancer in the left lung

How can cancer be treated?

Cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapyor other methods. The choice of therapy depends on the grade of the tumor and the stageof the disease, as well as the general state of the patient.


What are the recent Developments in Cancer Research?

Death rates for the four most common cancers (prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal), as well as for all cancers combined, continue to decline.

Adult cigarette smoking prevalence has been slowly declining since 1991, with some evidence of a steeper decline for females than males. However, overall prevalence has not declined since 2004.

The long-term trend in smoking rates among adolescents since the late 1990s appears to be heading downward, but this trend must be accelerated, especially since the most recent data point in 2005 suggests a possible flattening of this declining trend.

The incidence rates of cancer of the liver, pancreas, kidney, esophagus, and thyroid have continued to rise, as have the rates of new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma, and childhood cancers. The incidence rates of cancer of the brain and bladder and melanoma of the skin in women, and testicular cancer in men, are rising.

• Lung cancer death rates in women continue to rise, but not as rapidly as before. Death rates for cancer of the esophagus and thyroid in men, as well as of the liver, are increasing.

• While progress has been made in all segments of the population, subgroups including children living in smokers' homes and subgroups of nonsmoking workers (for example, blue collar occupations and hospitality industry) have higher rates of exposure to secondhand smoke.

• More people are overweight and obese, and leisure time physical activity is increasing only slightly, if at all.

• Alcohol consumption has been rising slightly since the mid 1990s. Fruit and vegetable intake is not increasing and remains relatively stable. Red meat and fat consumption are stable as well.

• Cancer treatment spending continues to rise along with total health care spending.

• Unexplained cancer-related health disparities remain among population subgroups. For example, Blacks and people with low socioeconomic status have the highest rates of both new cancers and cancer deaths.

• The incidence rates of cancer of the liver, pancreas, kidney, esophagus, and thyroid have continued to rise, as have the rates of new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma, and childhood cancers. The incidence rates of cancer of the brain and bladder and melanoma of the skin in women, and testicular cancer in men, are rising.

• Lung cancer death rates in women continue to rise, but not as rapidly as before. Death rates for cancer of the esophagus and thyroid in men, as well as of the liver, are increasing.

• While progress has been made in all segments of the population, subgroups including children living in smokers' homes and subgroups of nonsmoking workers (for example, blue collar occupations and hospitality industry) have higher rates of exposure to secondhand smoke.

• More people are overweight and obese, and leisure time physical activity is increasing only slightly, if at all.

• Cancer treatment spending continues to rise along with total health care spending.

• Unexplained cancer-related health disparities remain among population subgroups. For example, Blacks and people with low socioeconomic status have the highest rates of both new cancers and cancer deaths.

• Mammography rates dropped slightly between 2003–2005, especially for women 50–64. This will be monitored when data for 2008 are released to see whether this is a trend or just an aberration. Screening for colorectal cancer remains low, despite its proven effectiveness, though use is increasing.

1. American Association for Cancer Research www.aacr.org/home/about-us.aspx

This is the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). This website is very self-explanatory in that it is an american association that researches for cancer, which has more than 200 types. The AACR provides information about the advances in the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer.

Milestones in cancer research from AACR

Milestones from AACR go back as early as 1907, when sunlight was linked to skin cancer.

2004 - Avastin drug approved for treating advanced colon cancer
2004 - Developed vaccine to lessen chances of cervical cancer

Over the years, there have been substaintial improvement in the research against cancer. In 2006, there was over 10 million cancer survivors in the United States alone.

2. Cancer Research Institute http://www.cancerresearch.org/Default.aspx

This is the Cancer Research Institute (CRI). It is the world's only non-profit organization decided to the support, coordination, that hopes to lead to the treatement, control and prevention of cancer.

It strives to research more about cancer and therefore, does not have basic information about cancer. (Which can be easily found on many websites on the internet).

Milestones in cancer research from CRI

2000 - antibody, IMC-C225, discovered that treats head, neck and colon cancer
2001 - mice with deficient immune systems are proven to be more vulnerable to tumors
2001 - Trastuzumab or molecular treatment used to block growth factor protein in breast cancer

3. Cancer Research UK http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

website/organisation

Cancer Research UK is the world's leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research and its developments, helping professionals and the public to improve understanding of all types of cancer as well as develop better ways of prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

why this website is useful to us?

This website is very relevant for our research topic as the organisation has a Statistical Information Team (all experts in the field) that produce 10 reports each year. Each report contains comprehensive information and developments on all types of cancer and the issues related to it, complete with graphs, tables and illustrations to supoprt their text and figures. The data used in these reports are always the latest available at the time or writing them.

4. National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/)

website/organisation

NCI has more than 70 years of excellent experience in cancer research and will be a useful resource for our research topic as we will be able to ahve access to the latest research information through ordering or downloading free booklets with many topics such as:

- Types of cancer
- Treatnment options
- clinical trials
- General cancer research and statistical information
- Nutrition and diet
- understanting genetics
- Coping with cancer
- Testing for cancer
- Risk factors / Causes and prevention

The website provides information on their research programs are "extensive and contain many innovative initiatives", providing much valuable cancer-related information s via comprehensive descriptions of their research programs and clinical trials that will be very relevant and useful for our group project.

5. American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

That's the American Cancer Society, with information on cancer, statistics/figures on cancer, as well real life stories and various testimonials from cancer survivors.

As an organisation, it also provides various resources on cancer management, as well as news of cancer research developments. It also has links to various cancer related websites, organisations and helpful tools.

This website will increase our understanding of cancer, put our perspective to cancer patients and maybe even see things from their point of view.

Milestones in cancer research from ACS

2006 - Two former grantees are awarded the Nobel Prize, Craig C. Mello, PhD, won the Nobel Prize in medicine along with Andrew Fire, PhD, for their discovery of RNA interference (RNAI), or gene silencing by double stranded RNA. RNAi is a small RNA involved in the flow of genetic information. Former grantee Roger D. Kornberg, PhD, was the sole winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work on the molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription , or how DNA is converted to RNA.

2007 - Overall five year relative survival rates reach 66% for cancers diagnosed between 1996 and 2002. American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Advisory Group modifies the Society's Guidelines for Breast Screening to include an annual MRI exam for women at high risk for breast cancer greater than 20%.

6. Children's Cancer Foundation http://www.ccf.org.sg/train_research/cancer_lab.html

The Children's Cancer Foundation, they seek to improve the lives of children afflicted with cancer, as well as partnering with the National Cancer Centre Singapore to research and improve the conditions of cancer related issues.

Mission Statement:

To improve the quality of life of children with cancer and their families through enhancing their emotional, social and medical well-being.

This website lets us know the efforts of cancer researchers and health advocates on children and cancer. It is also informative on the topics of cancer, children related cancer issues and also various research developments thatare invaluable knowledge.

These websites are informative and maintained by well established organisations, so they will be of great benefit.

7. Singapore Cancer Society http://www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg

Established in 1964, the Singapore Cancer Society is a self-funding voluntary welfare organization on a mission to prevent and control cancer, and enhance health and quality of life in the community through education, research and patient care services.

8. Breast Cancer Foundation Singapore http://bcf.org.sg/index.asp?id=home

Breast cancer is curable if detected early. BCF hopes that by raising awareness of breast cancer and encouraging women to screen themselves regularly, breast cancer will be detected earlier and the chances of surviving the disease will be greatly enhanced.

9. National Foundation for Cancer Research http://www.nfcr.org/

This website consists of research programs and funding programs to fund the research for cancer cure.

It also features the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy, which builds a collaborative partnership to fight the cancer epidemic. There is also a section where people can donate read about the research and preventive measures for cancer.

American Association for Cancer Research (2007), "Centennial, Landmarks in Cancer Research." Retrieved January 20, 2008 from, http://www.aacr.org

Cancer Research Institute (2007), "Cancer Immunology" Retrieved January 20, 2008 from, http://www.cancerresearch.org


Children's Cancer Foundation (2007), "Training & Research." Retrieved January 21, 2008, from http://www.ccf.org.sg/index.html

American Cancer Society (2008), “Research Programme and Funding.” Retrieved 21, 2008, from http://www.cancer.org/docroot/RES/RES_0.asp


National Foundation for Cancer Research(2007), "IAEA PACT Programme" Retrieved January 28, 2008 from,http://www.nfcr.org/


Cancer Research UK (2007), "Our Research Portfolio 2006/07" Retrieved January 23, 2008 from, http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/


National Cancer Institute (2007), "Cancer Trends Progress Report: 2007 Update" Retrieved January 23, 2008 from, http://www.cancer.gov/