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Pragmatic cancer approach − time to change?

M. Tez

Published 2018 in Unknown venue

ABSTRACT

Cancer is the one of the most important public health problems in recent years [1]. It is only over the past 40 years since the passing of the national Cancer Act in 1971 in the US and the spending of hundreds of billions dollars, that the mortality rate of many cancers is at a level similar to that in 1930 (even when corrected for age) or somewhat declining [1–3]. Declining is largely a result of earlier detection (cancer of the cervix, breast and colorectal cancer). Similarly, recent changes in mortality from lung cancer are certainly due to decreases in smoking patterns over the past few decades. The observed trends may largely reflect changing incidence or earlier detection, rather than improved therapy [4]. In the last half a century, some topics have become fashionable in cancer research, and most cancer research resources are directed to these topics. First, the fashion was on “oncogenes” [5]. This, after a long delay, was displaced by tumor-suppressor genes. The mentioned trends of cancer fashion was followed by others such as cell cycle gene mutation, apoptosis, aneuploidy, angiogenesis [4] and lastly “bad luck” [5–7]. According to WHO, early detection of cancer greatly increases the chances for successful treatment [8]. Recognizing possible warning signs of cancer and taking prompt action leads to early diagnosis and early diagnosis is particularly relevant for cancers of the breast, cervix, mouth, larynx, colon and rectum, and skin. Screening refers to the use of simple tests across a healthy population in order to identify individuals who have disease, but do not as yet have symptoms [8]. Examples include breast cancer screening using mammography and cervical cancer screening using cytology screening methods, including Pap smears [9]. A huge US project (US$100-million) to genetically profile 10,000 tumors started in 2006. In 2009, this project received an additional $275 million [3]. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is now the biggest component of the International Cancer Genome Consortium, a collaboration of scientists from 16 nations

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