Preventing Cancer

Attenuating or preventing cancer begins with understanding how the deviation starts. While molecular biologists uncover the errant signals that subvert cells, epidemiologists close in on environmental triggers--which are, for now, easier to target. Cancer prevention strategies against long-known culprits are pervasive, yet mostly passive, such as admonitions to avoid smoking, sunning, and obesity. Efforts, however, span several levels, from the World Health Organization's Framework Convention

| 9 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
9:00
Share

Attenuating or preventing cancer begins with understanding how the deviation starts. While molecular biologists uncover the errant signals that subvert cells, epidemiologists close in on environmental triggers--which are, for now, easier to target.

Cancer prevention strategies against long-known culprits are pervasive, yet mostly passive, such as admonitions to avoid smoking, sunning, and obesity. Efforts, however, span several levels, from the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to communities in many nations banning smoking in public places, to numerous Web sites touting diets rich in fruits and vegetables. Add to these efforts early detection screens, such as Pap smears, mammograms, and prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests, and the battle against cancer is in motion. But chemoprevention--pharmaceuticals that counter cancer just before or as it starts--promises to put the struggle into high gear.

GENETIC ROOTS In the rare familial cancer syndromes, an overexpressed oncogene or disabled tumor suppressor gene, present ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

  • Ricki Lewis

    This person does not yet have a bio.
Share
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Enhancing Therapeutic Antibody Discovery with Cross-Platform Workflows

Enhancing Therapeutic Antibody Discovery with Cross-Platform Workflows

sartorius logo
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo

Products

Photo of a researcher overseeing large scale production processes in a laboratory.

Scaling Lentiviral Vector Manufacturing for Optimal Productivity

Thermo Fisher Logo
Collage-style urban graphic of wastewater surveillance and treatment

Putting Pathogens to the Test with Wastewater Surveillance

An illustration of an mRNA molecule in front of a multicolored background.

Generating High-Quality mRNA for In Vivo Delivery with lipid nanoparticles

Thermo Fisher Logo
Tecan Logo

Tecan introduces Veya: bringing digital, scalable automation to labs worldwide