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Epidemiology — identifying the causes and preventability of cancer?

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 6, pages 75–83 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

It has been almost 25 years since Doll and Peto performed their landmark analysis of epidemiological data to identify the causes of cancers and possible modes of cancer prevention. Since then, there have been many additional studies of cancer incidence using various epidemiological techniques. These studies revealed expanded opportunities for cancer prevention through approaches that include vaccination, increased physical activity, weight control and avoidance of post-menopausal hormone therapy.

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Figure 1: Proportion of cancer deaths attributed to non-genetic factors.
Figure 2: Cigarette consumption in the United States.

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Acknowledgements

We are most thankful for the critical contribution of peer reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Medicine, Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Graham A. Colditz

  2. the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, 33612, Florida, USA

    Thomas A. Sellers

  3. the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program, National Cancer Institute, EPN 5112, 6130 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, 20852, Maryland, USA

    Edward Trapido

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Correspondence to Graham A. Colditz.

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DATABASES

National Cancer Institute

breast cancer

colon cancer

endometrial cancer

lung cancer

non-Hodgkin lymphoma

prostate cancer

FURTHER INFORMATION

American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II

IARC Handbooks on Cancer Prevention

IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans

IARC Press

National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Survey

NCI Early-Detection Research Network

US Surgeon General Reports on Smoking and Health

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Colditz, G., Sellers, T. & Trapido, E. Epidemiology — identifying the causes and preventability of cancer?. Nat Rev Cancer 6, 75–83 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc1784

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