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104 Cancer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Cancer is a complex and devastating disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Writing an essay on this topic allows for a deeper understanding of the various aspects of cancer, including its causes, prevention, treatment, and impact on individuals and society. Here are 104 cancer essay topic ideas and examples to guide and inspire your writing:

  • The history of cancer research and treatment: From ancient times to modern advancements.
  • The role of genetics in cancer development: Exploring inherited and acquired genetic mutations.
  • Environmental factors and their association with cancer risk: Analyzing the impact of pollution, radiation, and lifestyle choices.
  • The most common types of cancer: In-depth exploration of breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, and other prevalent cancers.
  • Childhood cancer: Understanding the unique challenges and treatment options for pediatric patients.
  • The emotional and psychological impact of cancer on patients and their families.
  • The economics of cancer: Assessing the financial burden on patients and healthcare systems.
  • The impact of cancer on caregiver mental health: Examining the emotional toll on those who support cancer patients.
  • The role of exercise and nutrition in cancer prevention and recovery.
  • The development and effectiveness of cancer vaccines: Discussing breakthroughs and future prospects.
  • The influence of lifestyle choices on cancer risk: Tobacco, alcohol, diet, and exercise.
  • The stigma surrounding cancer: Addressing societal attitudes and misconceptions.
  • Alternative therapies for cancer treatment: Exploring complementary medicine and its potential benefits.
  • The ethics of experimental cancer treatments: Balancing patient rights and scientific progress.
  • Cancer prevention strategies in low-income countries: Identifying challenges and potential solutions.
  • The impact of cancer on workplace productivity: Analyzing the economic consequences for employees and employers.
  • Cancer survivors' quality of life: Examining the long-term physical and emotional effects.
  • The role of support groups and counseling in cancer care: Assessing their benefits and limitations.
  • Cancer and gender: Investigating the disparities in cancer incidence, treatment, and outcomes.
  • The psychological impact of cancer on children and adolescents.
  • The role of technology in early cancer detection: Discussing advancements in screening methods.
  • The impact of cancer on sexual health and intimacy: Addressing the challenges and available support.
  • The correlation between cancer and mental health disorders: Analyzing the reciprocal relationship.
  • The impact of cancer on fertility and reproductive choices: Exploring the options available to patients.
  • The intersection of cancer and chronic diseases: Investigating the complexities of dual diagnoses.
  • The role of palliative care in cancer treatment: Discussing end-of-life care and patient comfort.
  • The influence of social media on cancer awareness and fundraising campaigns.
  • The role of governmental policies in cancer prevention and control.
  • Cancer and the elderly population: Addressing unique challenges and treatment approaches.
  • The impact of race and ethnicity on cancer disparities: Investigating socioeconomic and cultural factors.
  • The effects of cancer on children's education and academic development.
  • The role of artificial intelligence in cancer diagnosis and treatment planning.
  • Cancer prevention campaigns: Analyzing their effectiveness and potential limitations.
  • The impact of cancer on sexual minorities: Investigating disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and support.
  • The role of spirituality and faith in cancer patients' coping mechanisms.
  • Cancer prevention in the workplace: Assessing occupational hazards and protective measures.
  • The correlation between cancer and obesity: Exploring the link and potential interventions.
  • The impact of cancer on siblings: Addressing the emotional and practical challenges.
  • The role of precision medicine in personalized cancer treatment: Discussing targeted therapies.
  • The influence of media portrayal on public perception of cancer and cancer patients.
  • The impact of cancer on caregivers' professional lives: Analyzing the challenges and potential support systems.
  • Cancer and the LGBTQ+ community: Investigating unique challenges and disparities in healthcare access.
  • The role of music and art therapy in cancer care: Assessing their benefits and limitations.
  • The correlation between cancer and socioeconomic status: Analyzing the disparities in diagnosis and outcomes.
  • The impact of cancer on young adults: Discussing fertility preservation and long-term survivorship issues.
  • Cancer and the rural population: Addressing barriers to access and treatment options.
  • The role of emotional support animals in cancer care: Investigating their benefits and ethical considerations.
  • The impact of cancer on intimate partner relationships: Addressing the challenges and available resources.
  • The influence of mindfulness and meditation on cancer patients' well-being.
  • The impact of cancer on military veterans: Analyzing the intersection of post-traumatic stress disorder and cancer.
  • Cancer and the incarcerated population: Addressing the challenges and potential solutions.
  • The role of patient advocacy in cancer care: Discussing the importance of empowering patients.
  • Cancer prevention through public health initiatives: Assessing community-based interventions.
  • The correlation between cancer and air pollution: Investigating the link and potential policy implications.
  • The impact of cancer on body image and self-esteem: Addressing psychological and social consequences.
  • Cancer and the transgender population: Exploring unique challenges and healthcare disparities.
  • The role of social determinants of health in cancer outcomes: Analyzing the influence of socioeconomic factors.
  • Cancer and the homeless population: Addressing the barriers to access and supportive care.
  • The impact of cancer on the LGBTQ+ youth: Investigating mental health disparities and support systems.
  • Cancer prevention in minority populations: Analyzing cultural factors and tailored interventions.
  • The role of exercise in cancer rehabilitation: Discussing the benefits of physical activity during and after treatment.
  • Cancer and the refugee population: Addressing the challenges and barriers to healthcare.
  • The impact of cancer on veterans' mental health: Analyzing post-traumatic stress disorder and survivorship.
  • The correlation between cancer and sleep disturbances: Investigating the link and potential interventions.
  • Cancer and the disabled population: Addressing unique challenges and supportive care.
  • The role of artificial intelligence in cancer prognosis: Discussing predictive models and decision support systems.
  • Cancer prevention through HPV vaccination: Analyzing the impact on cervical and other related cancers.
  • The impact of cancer on children's social development and peer relationships.
  • Cancer and the prison population: Addressing the disparities in access and treatment.
  • The role of telemedicine in cancer care: Discussing remote consultations and monitoring.
  • Cancer prevention in the aging population: Analyzing challenges and tailored interventions.
  • The correlation between cancer and smoking: Investigating the link and effective cessation strategies.
  • Cancer and mental health: Exploring the reciprocal relationship and potential interventions.
  • The impact of cancer on the LGBTQ+ elderly population: Addressing unique challenges and supportive care.
  • Cancer prevention through lifestyle modifications: Analyzing the role of diet, exercise, and stress management.
  • The role of genetic counseling in cancer risk assessment: Discussing the benefits and ethical considerations.
  • Cancer and environmental justice: Analyzing disparities in exposure to carcinogens.
  • The impact of cancer on adolescents' educational attainment and career prospects.
  • Cancer and the indigenous population: Addressing cultural and access barriers to care.
  • The role of social media influencers in cancer awareness campaigns: Assessing their impact and ethical considerations.
  • Cancer prevention through workplace policies: Analyzing the importance of occupational safety measures.

These essay topic ideas offer a wide range of possibilities for exploring the complex and multifaceted nature of cancer. Depending on your interests and expertise, you can choose a topic that resonates with you and delve into it with extensive research, analysis, and critical thinking. Remember to approach the topic with sensitivity and empathy, as cancer affects millions of lives and demands a compassionate approach to understanding and addressing its challenges.

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  • Published: 26 November 2018

The 150 most important questions in cancer research and clinical oncology series: questions 94–101

Edited by Cancer Communications

Cancer Communications

Cancer Communications volume  38 , Article number:  69 ( 2018 ) Cite this article

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Since the beginning of 2017, Cancer Communications (former title: Chinese Journal of Cancer ) has published a series of important questions regarding cancer research and clinical oncology, to provide an enhanced stimulus for cancer research, and to accelerate collaborations between institutions and investigators. In this edition, the following 8 valuable questions are presented. Question 94. The origin of tumors: time for a new paradigm? Question 95. How can we accelerate the identification of biomarkers for the early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma? Question 96. Can we improve the treatment outcomes of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through precision medicine guided by a combination of the genetic and proteomic information of the tumor? Question 97. What are the parameters that determine a competent immune system that gives a complete response to cancers after immune induction? Question 98. Is high local concentration of metformin essential for its anti-cancer activity? Question 99. How can we monitor the emergence of cancer cells anywhere in the body through plasma testing? Question 100. Can phytochemicals be more specific and efficient at targeting P-glycoproteins to overcome multi-drug resistance in cancer cells? Question 101. Is cell migration a selectable trait in the natural evolution of carcinoma?

Until now, the battle against cancer is still ongoing, but there are also ongoing discoveries being made. Milestones in cancer research and treatments are being achieved every year; at a quicker pace, as compared to decades ago. Likewise, some cancers that were considered incurable are now partly curable, lives that could not be saved are now being saved, and for those with yet little options, they are now having best-supporting care. With an objective to promote worldwide cancer research and even accelerate inter-countries collaborations, since the beginning of 2017, Cancer Communications (former title: Chinese Journal of Cancer ) has launched a program of publishing 150 most important questions in cancer research and clinical oncology [ 1 ]. We are providing a platform for researchers to freely voice-out their novel ideas, and propositions to enhance the communications on how and where our focus should be placed [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. In this edition, 8 valuable and inspiring questions, Question 94–101, from highly distinguished professionals from different parts of the world are presented. If you have any novel proposition(s) and Question(s), please feel free to contact Ms. Ji Ruan via email: [email protected].

Question 94: The origin of tumors: time for a new paradigm?

Background and implications.

“There is no worse blind man than the one who doesn’t want to see. There is no worse deaf man than the one who doesn’t want to hear. And there is no worse madman than the one who doesn’t want to understand.” —Ancient Proverb

In the past half-century, cancer biologists have focused on a dogma in which cancer was viewed as a proliferative disease due to mechanisms that activate genes (oncogenes) to promote cell proliferation or inactivate genes (tumor suppressor genes) to suppress tumor growth. In retrospect, these concepts were established based on functional selections, by using tissue culture (largely mouse NIH 3T3 cells) for the selection of transformed foci at the time when we knew virtually nothing about the human genome [ 14 ]. However, it is very difficult to use these genes individually or in combinations to transform primary human cells. Further, the simplified view of uncontrolled proliferation cannot explain the tumor as being a malignant organ or a teratoma, as observed by pathologists over centuries. Recently, the cancer genomic atlas project has revealed a wide variety of genetic alterations ranging from no mutation to multiple chromosomal deletions or fragmentations, which make the identification of cancer driver mutations very challenging in a background of such a massive genomic rearrangement. Paradoxically, this increase the evidences demonstrating that the oncogenic mutations are commonly found in many normal tissues, further challenging the dogma that genetic alteration is the primary driver of this disease.

Logically, the birth of a tumor should undergo an embryonic-like development at the beginning, similar to that of a human. However, the nature of such somatic-derived early embryo has been elusive. Recently, we provided evidence to show that polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), which have been previously considered non-dividing, are actually capable of self-renewal, generating viable daughter cells via amitotic budding, splitting and burst, and capable of acquisition of embryonic-like stemness [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The mode of PGCC division is remarkably similar to that of blastomere, a first step in human embryogenesis following fertilization. The blastomere nucleus continuously divides 4–5 times without cytoplasmic division to generate 16–32 cells and then to form compaction/morulae before developing into a blastocyst [ 18 ]. Based on these data and similarity to the earliest stage of human embryogenesis, I propose a new theory that tumor initiation can be achieved via a dualistic origin, similar to the first step of human embryogenesis via the formation of blastomere-like cells, i.e. the activation of blastomere or blastomere-like cells which leads to the dedifferentiation of germ cells or somatic cells, respectively, which is then followed by the differentiation to generate their respective stem cells, and the differentiation arrest at a specific developmental hierarchy leading to tumor initiation [ 19 ]. The somatic-derived blastomere-like cancer stem cell follows its own mode of cell growth and division and is named as the giant cell cycle. This cycle includes four distinct but overlapping phases: the initiation, self-renewal, termination, and stability phases. The giant cell cycle can be tracked in vitro and in vivo due to their salient giant cell morphology (Fig.  1 ).

figure 1

One mononucleated polyploid giant cancer cell (PGCC) in the background of regular size diploid cancer cells. The PGCC can be seen to be at least 100 times larger than that of regular cancer cells

This new theory challenges the traditional paradigm that cancer is a proliferative disease, and proposes that the initiation of cancer requires blastomere-like division that is similar to that of humans before achieving stable proliferation at specific developmental hierarchy in at least half of all human cancers. This question calls for all investigators in the cancer research community to investigate the role of PGCCs in the initiation, progression, resistance, and metastasis of cancer and to look for novel agents to block the different stages of the giant cell cycle.

The histopathology (phenotype) of cancers has been there all the time. It is just the theory of cancer origin proposed by scientists that changes from time to time. After all, trillions of dollars have been invested in fighting this disease by basing on its genetic origin in the past half-century, yet, little insight has been gained [ 14 ]. Here are two quotes from Einstein: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results”, and “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when created them”.

In short, it is time to change our mindset and to start pursuing PGCCs, which we can observe under the microscope. But with very little understanding about these cells, it is time for a shift in paradigm.

Jinsong Liu.

Affiliation

Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4095, USA.

Email address

[email protected]

Question 95: How can we accelerate the identification of biomarkers for the early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma?

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers in the world with a dismal 5-year overall survival rate of less than 5%; which has not been significantly improved since the past decades. Although surgical resection is the only option for curative treatment of PDAC, only 15%–20% of patients with PDAC have the chance to undergo curative resection, leaving the rest with only palliative options in hope for increasing their quality of life; since they were already at unresectable and non-curative stages at their first diagnosis.

The lack of specific symptoms in the early-stage of PDAC is responsible for rendering an early diagnosis difficult. Therefore, more sensitive and specific screening methodologies for its early detection is urgently needed to improve its diagnosis, starting early treatments, and ameliorating prognoses. The diagnosis so far relies on imaging modalities such as abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and positron emission tomography (PET). One may propose to screen for pancreatic cancer in high-risk populations, which is highly recommended, however screening intervention for all the people is not a wise choice; when considering the relatively low prevalence of PDAC, and the difficulty for diagnosing it in its early stage [ 20 ].

Therefore, alternative diagnostic tools for early detection of PDAC are highly expected. Among the biomarkers currently used in clinical practice, carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19–9) is among the most useful one for supporting the diagnosis of PDAC, but it is neither sufficiently sensitive nor specific for its early detection. Yachida et al. reported in 2010 that the initiating mutation in the pancreas occurs approximately two decades before the PDAC to start growing in distant organs [ 21 ], which indicates a broad time of the window of opportunity for the early detection of PDAC. With the advancement in next-generation sequencing technology, the number of reported studies regarding novel potential molecular biomarkers in bodily fluids including the blood, feces, urine, saliva, and pancreatic juice for early detection of PDAC has been increasing. Such biomarkers may be susceptible to detect mutations at the genetic or epigenetic level, identifying important non-coding RNA (especially microRNA and long non-coding RNA), providing insights regarding the metabolic profiles, estimating the tumor level in liquid biopsies (circulating free DNA, circulating tumor cells and exosomes), and so on.

Another approach to identifying biomarkers for the early detection of pancreatic cancer is using animal models. In spontaneous animal models of pancreatic cancer, such as Kras-mutated mouse models, it is expected that by high throughput analyses of the genetic/epigenetic/proteomic alterations, some novel biomarkers might be able to be identified. For instance, Sharma et al. reported in 2017 that the detection of phosphatidylserine-positive exosomes enabled the diagnosis of early-stage malignancies in LSL-Kras G12D , Cdkn2a lox/lox : p48 Cre and LSL-Kras G12d/+ , LSL-Trp R172H/+ , and P48 Cre mice [ 22 ].

These analyses in clinical samples or animal models hold the clues for the early detection of PDAC, however, further studies are required to validate their diagnostic performance. What’s most important, will be the lining-up of these identified prospective biomarkers, to validate their sensitivities and specificities. This will determine their potential for widespread clinical applicability, and hopefully, accelerate the early diagnosis of PDAC.

Mikiya Takao 1,2 , Hirotaka Matsuo 2 , Junji Yamamoto 1 , and Nariyoshi Shinomiya 2 .

1 Department of Surgery, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan; 2 Department of Integrative Physiology and Bio-Nano Medicine, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan.

E-mail address

[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Question 96: Can we improve the treatment outcomes of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through precision medicine guided by a combination of the genetic and proteomic information of the tumor?

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most malignant cancers, and nearly half of the patients had metastatic PDAC when they are initially diagnosed. When they are accompanied by metastatic tumors, unlike most solid cancer, PDAC cannot be cured with primary surgical resection alone [ 23 , 24 ]. Also, since PDAC has poor responses to conventional therapies, improvements in adjunctive treatment approach including chemo- and immuno-therapy are earnestly required. From this standpoint, recent results regarding the differences in the molecular evolution of pancreatic cancer subtypes provide a new insight into its therapeutic development [ 25 ], which may lead to the improvement of the prognosis of not only metastatic PDAC but also of locally advanced or recurrent PDAC.

In fact, new chemotherapeutic regimens such as the combination of gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel and FOLFIRINOX have been reported to show improved prognosis despite a lack of examples of past successes in the treatment of patients with metastatic PDAC who had undergone R0 resection [ 26 ]. While many mutations including KRAS , CDKN2A , TP53, and SMAD4 are associated with pancreatic carcinogenesis, no effective molecular targeted drug has been introduced in the clinical setting so far. A recent report of a phase I/II study on refametinib, a MEK inhibitor, indicated that KRAS mutation status might affect the overall response rate, disease control rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival of PDAC in combination with gemcitabine [ 27 ].

While immunotherapy is expected to bring a great improvement in cancer treatment, until now, immune checkpoint inhibitors have achieved limited clinical benefit for patients with PDAC. This might be because PDAC creates a uniquely immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, where tumor-associated immunosuppressive cells and accompanying desmoplastic stroma prevent the tumor cells from T cell infiltration. Recently reported studies have indicated that immunotherapy might be effective when combined with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor [ 28 ] or IL-6 inhibitor [ 29 ], but more studies are required to validate their use in clinical practice.

As such, we believe that if the dynamic monitoring of drug sensitivity/resistance in the individual patients is coupled with precision treatment based on individualized genetics/epigenetics/proteomics alterations in the patients’ tumor, this could improve the treatment outcomes of PDAC.

Mikiya Takao 1,2 , Hirotaka Matsuo 2 , Junji Yamamoto 1 , and Nariyoshi Shinomiya 2.

Question 97: What are the parameters that determine a competent immune system that gives a complete response to cancers after immune induction?

Recently, cancer immunotherapy has shown great clinical benefit in multiple types of cancers [ 30 , 31 , 32 ]. It has provided new approaches for cancer treatment. However, it has been observed that only a fraction of patients respond to immunotherapy.

Much effort has been made to identify markers for immunotherapeutic response. Tumor mutation burden (TMB), mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency, PD-L1 expression, and tumor infiltration lymphocyte (TIL) have been found to be associated with an increased response rate in checkpoint blockade therapies. Unfortunately, a precise prediction is still challenging in this field. Moreover, when to stop the treatment of immunotherapy is an urgent question that remains to be elucidated.

In other words, there is no available approach to determine if a patient has generated a good immune response against the cancer after immunotherapy treatments. All of these indicate the complexity and challenges that reside for implementing novel man-induced cancer-effective immune response therapeutics. A variety of immune cells play collaborative roles at different stages to recognize antigens and eventually to generate an effective anti-cancer immune response. Given the high complexity of the immune system, a rational evaluation approach is needed to cover the whole process. Moreover, we need to perfect vaccine immunization and/or in vitro activation of T cells to augment the function of the immune system; particularly the formation of immune memory.

Edison Liu 1 , Penghui Zhou 2 , Jiang Li 2 .

1 The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; 2 Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P. R. China.

[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Question 98: Is high local concentration of metformin essential for its anti-cancer activity?

Metformin was approved as a first line of anti-diabetic drug since decades. Interestingly, the fact that clinical epidemiological studies have shown that metformin can reduce the risk of a variety of cancers stimulates considerable recognition to explore its anticancer activity.

Although the in vitro and in vivo experimental results have demonstrated that metformin can have some potential anti-tumor effects, more than 100 clinical trials did not achieve such desirable results [ 33 ]. We and others believe that the main problem resides in the prescribing doses used. For cancer treatment, a much higher dose may be needed for observing any anti-tumor activities, as compared to the doses prescribed for diabetics [ 34 , 35 , 36 ].

Further, if the traditional local/oral administration approach is favored, the prescribed metformin may not be at the required dose-concentration once it reaches the blood to have the effective anti-cancer activities. We, therefore, propose that intravesical instillation of metformin into the bladder lumen could be a promising way to treat for bladder cancer, at least. We have already obtained encouraging results both in vitro and in vivo experiments, including in an orthotopical bladder cancer model [ 36 , 37 ]. Now, we are waiting to observe its prospective clinical outcome.

Mei Peng 1 , Xiaoping Yang 2 .

1 Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. Changsha, Hunan 410083, P. R. China; 2 Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P. R. China.

[email protected]; [email protected]

Question 99: How can we monitor the emergence of cancer cells anywhere in the body through plasma testing?

The early detection of cancer is still a relentless worldwide challenge. The sensitivity and specificity of traditional blood tumor markers and imaging technologies are still to be greatly improved. Hence, novel approaches for the early detection of cancer are urgently needed.

The emergence of liquid biopsy technologies opens a new driveway for solving such issues. According to the definition of the National Cancer Institute of the United States, a liquid biopsy is a test done on a sample of blood to look for tumorigenic cancer cells or pieces of tumor cells’ DNA that are circulating in the blood [ 38 ]. This definition implies two main types of the current liquid biopsy: one that detects circulating tumor cells and the other that detects non-cellular material in the blood, including tumor DNA, RNA, and exosomes.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are referred to as tumor cells that have been shed from the primary tumor location and have found their way to the peripheral blood. CTCs were first described in 1869 by an Australian pathologist, Thomas Ashworth, in a patient with metastatic cancer [ 39 ]. The importance of CTCs in modern cancer research began in the mid-1990s with the demonstration that CTCs exist early in the course of the disease.

It is estimated that there are about 1–10 CTCs per mL in whole blood of patients with metastatic cancer, even fewer in patients with early-stage cancer [ 40 ]. For comparison, 1 mL of blood contains a few million white blood cells and a billion erythrocytes. The identification of CTCs, being in such low frequency, requires some special tumoral markers (e.g., EpCAM and cytokeratins) to capture and isolate them. Unfortunately, the common markers for recognizing the majority of CTCs are not effective enough for clinical application [ 41 ]. Although accumulated evidences have shown that the presence of CTCs is a strong negative prognostic factor in the patients with metastatic breast, lung and colorectal cancers, detecting CTCs might not be an ideal branch to hold on for the hope of early cancer detection [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ].

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is tumor-derived fragmented DNA in the circulatory system, which is mainly derived from the tumor cell death through necrosis and/or apoptosis [ 46 ]. Given its origin, ctDNA inherently carries cancer-specific genetic and epigenetic aberrations, which can be used as a surrogate source of tumor DNA for cancer diagnosis and prognostic prediction. Ideally, as a noninvasive tumor early screening tool, a liquid biopsy test should be able to detect many types of cancers and provide the information of tumor origin for further specific clinical management. In fact, the somatic mutations of ctDNA in different types of tumor are highly variable, even in the different individuals with the same type of tumor [ 47 ]. Additionally, most tumors do not possess driver mutations, with some notable exceptions, which make the somatic mutations of ctDNA not suitable for early detection of the tumor.

Increased methylation of the promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes is an early event in many types of tumor, suggesting that altered ctDNA methylation patterns could be one of the first detectable neoplastic changes associated with tumorigenesis [ 48 ]. ctDNA methylation profiling provides several advantages over somatic mutation analysis for cancer detection including higher clinical sensitivity and dynamic range, multiple detectable methylation target regions, and multiple altered CpG sites within each targeted genomic region. Further, each methylation marker is present in both cancer tissue and ctDNA, whereas only a fraction of mutations present in cancer tissue could be detected in ctDNA.

In 2017, there were two inspiring studies that revealed the values of using ctDNA methylation analysis for cancer early diagnosis [ 49 , 50 ]. After partitioning the human genome into blocks of tightly coupled CpG methylation sites, namely methylation haplotype blocks (MHBs), Guo and colleagues performed tissue-specific methylation analyses at the MHBs level to accurately determine the tissue origin of the cancer using ctDNA from their enrolled patients [ 49 ]. In another study, Xu and colleagues identified a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) enriched methylation marker panel by comparing the HCC tissue and blood leukocytes from normal individuals and showed that methylation profiles of HCC tumor DNA and matched plasma ctDNA were highly correlated. In this study, after quantitative measurement of the methylation level of candidate markers in ctDNA from a large cohort of 1098 HCC patients and 835 normal controls, ten methylation markers were selected to construct a diagnostic prediction model. The proposed model demonstrated a high diagnostic specificity and sensitivity, and was highly correlated with tumor burden, treatment response, and tumor stage [ 50 ].

With the rapid development of highly sensitive detection methods, especially the technologies of massively parallel sequencing or next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based assays and digital PCR (dPCR), we strongly believe that the identification of a broader “pan-cancer” methylation panel applied for ctDNA analyses, probably in combination with detections of somatic mutation and tumor-derived exosomes, would allow more effective screening for common cancers in the near future.

Edison Liu 1 , Hui-Yan Luo 2 .

[email protected]; [email protected]

Question 100: Can phytochemicals be more specific and efficient at targeting P-glycoproteins to overcome multi-drug resistance in cancer cells?

Though several anticancer agents are approved to treat different types of cancers, their full potentials have been limited due to the occurrence of drug resistance. Resistance to anticancer drugs develops by a variety of mechanisms, one of which is increased drug efflux by transporters. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family drug efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp or multi-drug resistance protein 1 [MDRP1]) has been extensively studied and is known to play a major role in the development of multi-drug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy [ 51 ]. In brief, overexpressed P-gp efflux out a wide variety of anticancer agents (e.g.: vinca alkaloids, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, etc.), leading to a lower concentration of these drugs inside cancer cells, thereby resulting in MDR. Over the past three decades, researchers have developed several synthetic P-gp inhibitors to block the efflux of anticancer drugs and have tested them in clinical trials, in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs. But none were found to be suitable enough in overcoming MDR and to be released for marketing, mainly due to the side effects associated with cross-reactivity towards other ABC transporters (BCRP and MRP-1) and the inhibition of CYP450 drug metabolizing enzymes [ 52 , 53 ].

On the other hand, a number of phytochemicals have been reported to have P-gp inhibitory activity. Moreover, detailed structure–activity studies on these phytochemicals have delineated the functional groups essential for P-gp inhibition [ 53 , 54 ]. Currently, one of the phytochemicals, tetrandrine (CBT-1 ® ; NSC-77037), is being used in a Phase I clinical trial ( http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov ; NCT03002805) in combination with doxorubicin for the treatment of metastatic sarcoma. Before developing phytochemicals or their derivatives as P-gp inhibitors, they need to be investigated thoroughly for their cross-reactivity towards other ABC transporters and CYP450 inhibition, in order to avoid toxicities similar to the older generation P-gp inhibitors that have failed in clinical trials.

Therefore, the selectivity for P-gp over other drug transporters and drug metabolizing enzymes should be considered as important criterias for the development of phytochemicals and their derivatives for overcoming MDR.

Mohane Selvaraj Coumar and Safiulla Basha Syed.

Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Puducherry 605014, India.

[email protected]; [email protected]

Question 101: Is cell migration a selectable trait in the natural evolution of carcinoma?

The propensity of solid tumor malignancy to metastasize remains the main cause of cancer-related death, an extraordinary unmet clinical need, and an unanswered question in basic cancer research. While dissemination has been traditionally viewed as a late process in the progression of malignant tumors, amount of evidence indicates that it can occur early in the natural history of cancer, frequently when the primary lesion is still barely detectable.

A prerequisite for cancer dissemination is the acquisition of migratory/invasive properties. However, whether, and if so, how the migratory phenotype is selected for during the natural evolution of cancer and what advantage, if any, it may provide to the growing malignant cells remains an open issue. The answers to these questions are relevant not only for our understating of cancer biology but also for the strategies we adopt in an attempt of curbing this disease. Frequently, indeed, particularly in pharmaceutical settings, targeting migration has been considered much like trying “to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted” and no serious efforts in pursuing this aim has been done.

We argue, instead, that migration might be an intrinsic cancer trait that much like proliferation or increased survival confers to the growing tumor masses with striking selective advantages. The most compelling evidence in support for this contention stems from studies using mathematical modeling of cancer evolution. Surprisingly, these works highlighted the notion that cell migration is an intrinsic, selectable property of malignant cells, so intimately intertwined with more obvious evolutionarily-driven cancer traits to directly impact not only on the potential of malignant cells to disseminate but also on their growth dynamics, and ultimately provide a selective evolutionary advantage. Whether in real life this holds true remains to be assessed, nevertheless, work of this kind defines a framework where the acquisition of migration can be understood in a term of not just as a way to spread, but also to trigger the emergence of malignant clones with favorable genetic or epigenetic traits.

Alternatively, migratory phenotypes might emerge as a response to unfavorable conditions, including the mechanically challenging environment which tumors, and particularly epithelial-derived carcinoma, invariably experience. Becoming motile, however, may not per se being fixed as phenotypic advantageous traits unless it is accompanied or is causing the emergence of specific traits, including drug resistance, self-renewal, and survival. This might be the case, for example, during the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is emerging as an overarching mechanism for dissemination. EMT, indeed, may transiently equip individual cancer cells not only with migratory/invasive capacity but also with increased resistance to drug treatment, stemness potential at the expanse of fast proliferation.

Thus, within this framework targeting pro-migratory genes, proteins and processes may become a therapeutically valid alternative or a complementary strategy not only to control carcinoma dissemination but also its progression and development.

Giorgio Scita.

IFOM, The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology (DIPO), School of Medicine, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122, Italy.

[email protected]

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Cancer Communications. The 150 most important questions in cancer research and clinical oncology series: questions 94–101. Cancer Commun 38 , 69 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40880-018-0341-9

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  • Tumor origin
  • Polyploid giant cancer cell
  • Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
  • Liquid biopsy
  • Spontaneous animal model
  • Chemotherapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Precision treatment
  • Vaccine immunization
  • Circulating tumor cell
  • Circulating tumor DNA
  • CpG methylation
  • Methylation haplotype block
  • Phytochemicals
  • P-Glycoprotein
  • Multi-drug resistance
  • P-Glycoprotein inhibitor
  • Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
  • Pro-migratory gene

ISSN: 2523-3548

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Research Topics

At Memorial Sloan Kettering, scientific inquiry unites researchers with diverse expertise from across our academic programs and medical departments. Learn about some of our most intensively pursued topics of investigation.

using the genetics and genomics of cancer to create new treatment options

Molecular Pathology & Diagnostics

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Cochrane Breast Cancer

Top 10 breast cancer topics needing a cochrane systematic review.

cancer topics for research papers

Deciding which research topics to focus on in medicine and health depends on many factors. These factors can include the currency of a topic, feedback from people providing or receiving care, and the priorities of funders.

In late 2019, the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group (part of Cochrane’s Cancer Network) conducted a formal priority-setting exercise to help decide which review topics were most needed in the Cochrane Library. The Group did this by circulating a survey listing 25 new or existing review topics to a diverse group of individuals who are part of the international breast cancer community. The survey asked individuals to rank their top 10 topics from the list. Read details about the aims and methods used for this priority-setting exercise, which adhered to the standards outlined in Cochrane’s priority setting guidance note .

What were the top 10 review topics?

1

Omission of whole breast irradiation for postmenopausal women with early breast cancer 

Can radiotherapy be safely omitted in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer? 

2

Platinum-containing regimens for neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy in triple-negative breast cancer 

What are the benefits and harms of adding platinum chemotherapy to standard therapy for people with triple-negative early breast cancer? 

3

Overdiagnosis due to screening mammography for women aged 40 years and over

In women aged 40 years or older and at average risk, should they have a mammogram? 

4

Post-mastectomy radiotherapy for women with early breast cancer and 1 to 3 positive lymph nodes

For women who have 1 to 3 positive axillary lymph nodes after mastectomy, does radiotherapy to the lymph nodes provide an additional benefit when compared to women who do not have radiotherapy to the lymph nodes?

5

Breast surgery for metastatic breast cancer

What are the benefits and harms of having breast surgery in addition to anti-cancer treatment when breast cancer has spread to another part of the body?

6

Partial breast irradiation for early breast cancer

Can radiotherapy delivered to part of the breast be as effective and safe as radiotherapy delivered to the whole breast for women who have had breast-conserving surgery?

7

Parenteral bone-active agents in adjuvant therapy

What are the benefits and harms of adding bisphosphonate or denosumab to standard anti-cancer treatment in women with early breast cancer?

8

Systemic therapies for preventing or treating aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal symptoms in early breast cancer

Can medications and supplements (such as complementary and alternative medicines) help to reduce the symptoms of aromatase inhibitor-induced muscle pain and stiffness compared to no therapy? 

9

Non-hormonal interventions for hot flushes in women with a history of breast cancer

Can pharmacological agents (such as vitamin E, clonidine, gabapentin) and non-pharmacological therapies (such as meditation, aromatherapy, magnetic therapy) help to reduce the number of hot flushes compared to no therapy in women receiving endocrine therapy for breast cancer treatment, women experiencing menopause with a history of breast cancer or women experiencing menopause due to breast cancer treatment?

10

Hypofractionation radiation therapy for early breast cancer

Can fewer radiotherapy visits (by using a higher radiation dose at each visit) be as effective and safe as conventional radiotherapy treatments for women who have had breast-conserving surgery?

Read about the ranking of the 25 new or existing review topics .

What is next?

Support to author teams For the top 10 topics, the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group will prioritise these topics during the editorial and peer-review process.

For all breast cancer review topics registered with Cochrane, the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group continues to work on these topics with author teams as these remain important topics. There will be no noticeable change in the support provided to author teams.

Future topics The Cochrane Breast Cancer Group is open to receiving new topic ideas. If you have suggestions for new topics that are not currently covered in the Cochrane Library, please send your idea to [email protected] .

Repeating this priority-setting exercise The priority-setting exercise may be repeated every 3 years, depending on resources.

Who responded to the survey?

The survey was circulated to over 800 individuals. Of the 199 people who responded, 90 people (45%) provided complete responses. The respondents were doctors (59%), researchers (18%) and people who had received treatment or currently receiving treatment for breast cancer (14%). Most respondents were from the UK, followed by the USA, Argentina, and India.

How did we calculate the ranking for each review topic?

The average ranking was calculated for each topic. This method is commonly used to determine ranking scores from surveys. This approach considers the number of counts for each ranking on a topic, the weighting of each rank (where a ranking of 1 gets the most weight) and the total number of counts. 

[Cover image: foliage of the Yew tree. Taxanes, a class of chemotherapy drugs, were originally derived from the Yew tree]

353 Cancer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best cancer topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on cancer, 📌 most interesting cancer topics to write about, 💡 good research topics about cancer, ⭐ simple & easy cancer essay titles, 🔎 interesting topics to write about cancer.

  • Breast Cancer: Concept Map and Case Study Each member of the interdisciplinary team involved in treating patients with cancer and heart disease should focus on educational priorities such as:
  • Health Psychology: Going Through a Breast Cancer Diagnosis He is unaware that she has been diagnosed with depression and that she is going for breast screening Stress from work is also a contributing factor to her condition.
  • Breast Cancer Symptoms and Causes The mammogram is the first indication of breast cancer, even though other indications such as the presence of the lymph nodes in the armpits are also the early indications of breast cancer.
  • Antioxidants: The Role in Preventing Cancer and Heart Disease Some of antioxidants are more widely known as vitamins E, C, and carotenoids, and have a reputation of preventing cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
  • Cancer: Risk, Treatment and Prevention Cancer is a condition characterized by abnormal cells that do not function usefully in the body, thereby destroying normal body tissues.
  • Community-Based Health Education on Cervical Cancer Through awareness, women will be able to understand the life of the diseases and the control measures that should be put in place to eradicate the infection.
  • Cancer Pathophysiology and Nursing Management Nurses play an important role in the treatment of cancer patients through the nursing process which consists of various stages and utilizes educational background and knowledge regarding the disease.
  • Enhancing Cancer Screening Access and Treatment Equity Increasing the accessibility and equity in cancer screening solutions is extremely important. The existing screening criteria should be expanded through changes in guidelines, and increased funding.
  • Progress in Cancer Control: Rhetorical Analysis According to their study, these behaviors are more likely to lead to cancer, and the authors’ goal is to convince the audience that they should take responsibility for their health and strive to minimize the […]
  • Breast Cancer and Its Population Burden The other objectives that are central to this paper are highlighted below: To determine which group is at a high risk of breast cancer To elucidate the impact of breast cancer on elderly women and […]
  • Pap Smear and Cervical Cancer: Oncology Nursing The piece of legislation I believe has most significantly affected women’s healthcare in the past century is the regulation for women to take Pap smear regularly to prevent cervical cancer development.
  • Colorectal Cancer Screening Methodology CRC affects the colon, the large intestine, and the rectum a passageway between the colon and the anus. In 2019, the average incidence rate for CRC in the United States was 41.
  • Screening Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer Prevention Colonoscopy allows visualization of the entire mucosa of the distal terminal ileum and the large intestine. Before the screening, the natural history of the disease is essential for the practitioner to identify the prevention levels.
  • Prostate Cancer: Urinary Frequency and Incontinence In terms of the back and spine pain that the patient reported, it is notable that the x-ray revealed some mild degenerative changes in the form of a cystic mass near the spine.
  • Discussion: Understanding of Cancer Annually, the IARC estimates the number of new cancer cases and fatalities worldwide and in the United States and gathers the most up-to-date data on the prevalence of cancer in populations.
  • Ovarian Cancer: Risk Factors, Health Disparities, and Preventive Measures The most common signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer include weight loss, pain in the pelvic region, swelling and bloating in the abdomen, low appetite, and increased urination.
  • Mindfulness Practice During Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer She discusses the significance of the study to the nursing field and how nurses can use the findings to help their patients cope with stress.
  • The Role of hnRNPs in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Blood and lymph are tissues of mesenchymal origin, which consist of plasma and corpuscles suspended in it and form the internal environment of the body.
  • Benefits of Good Nutrition During Cancer Treatment Eating various foods is an important part of a healthy diet to get the nutrients the patient needs to fight cancer.
  • The Lung Cancer Incidence Research The attributed risk is calculated by dividing the newly diagnosed incidence of cancer attributed to smoking by the total number of newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer.
  • Breast Cancer: The Effective Care Domain Information about how the patient is seen, how often the patient is seen, and whether she will return for mammograms can be collected and analyzed to verify the successful intervention to extend consistency with mammograms.
  • Colorectal Cancer Screening and Its Effect on Disease Incidence The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if or to what degree the implementation of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s System Approach to Tracking and Increasing Screening for […]
  • The Burden of Cancer in the United States Both Hispanic men and women are the least affected by lung cancer in terms of incidence and mortality. Therefore, considering the DALYs measure and smoking rates in the Hispanic group, it can be concluded that […]
  • Statistical Analysis of Lung and Bronchus Cancer Data Using the mean obtained, the Black community has recorded the highest cases of lung and bronchus cancer, with the lowest ethnic group recording, such being the Hispanic race.
  • Garden Pesticide and Breast Cancer Therefore, taking into account the basic formula, the 1000 person-years case, the number of culture-positive cases of 500, and culture-negative of 10000, the incidence rate will be 20 new cases.
  • Breast Cancer as a Genetic Red Flag It is important to note that the genetic red flags in Figure 1 depicted above include heart disease, hypertension, and breast cancer.
  • Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium Analysis Simultaneously, the resource is beneficial because it aims to “improve the delivery and quality of breast cancer screening and related outcomes in the United States”.
  • Drinking Green Tea: Breast Cancer Patients Therefore, drinking green tea regularly is just a necessity- it will contribute to good health and physical vigor throughout the day and prevent severe diseases.
  • Pathophysiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Cancer It is also evident that the illness acts fast due to the continuous multiplication of the cancer cells leading to breathing disruptions and eventual death. This sustained weight loss is primarily essential to the advancement […]
  • Breast Cancer Prevention: Ethical and Scientific Issues Such information can potentially impact the patient and decide in favor of sharing the information about the current condition and risks correlating with the family history.
  • Prostate Cancer Statistics for a Term Paper Prostate cancer is also known as ‘Carcinoma of the Prostate’ and it starts when cells in the prostate glands develop an abnormality that allows them to grow out of control.
  • Colorectal Cancer: Promoting a Healthy Diet The aims and goals were to analyze the goals, techniques of solution, and outcomes of particular research and enhance knowledge about the topic area based on a review of freshly released data. I would also […]
  • Colorectal Cancer Development Due to Dietary Habits A fundamental research interest of the present dissertation was to run a pilot test on a small sample to assess the possibility of using questionnaires as a tool to assess Saudis’ perception of dietary habits […]
  • Cancer Patients’ Late Admission to a Hospice Mulville et al.set out to evaluate and identify the reasons that prevent timely admission to the hospice of cancer patients at the end of life.
  • Breast Cancer: Epidemiology, Risks, and Prevention In that way, the authors discuss the topics of breast cancer and obesity and the existing methods of prevention while addressing the ethnic disparities persistent in the issue.
  • Breast Cancer Development in Black Women With consideration of the mentioned variables and target population, the research question can be formulated: what is the effect of nutrition and lifestyle maintained on breast cancer development in black women?
  • Dietary Habits as a Risk Factor of Colorectal Cancer The risks, however, reduce with the adoption of healthy dietary habits, such as the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. The author advised conducting more qualitative studies on factors affecting the Saudis population to adhere […]
  • Traditional and Complementary Medicine Among Indigenous Cancer Patients Therefore, it is necessary to increase the overall understanding of the role of CAM among breast cancer patients alongside identifying the key motivating factors, where the prime manifestations of the phenomenon are faith and prayer.
  • Education for Parents of Children With Cancer The hospital was selected because I am have been working there for a long time, and the personnel is willing to help me with the implementation of the process.
  • Health Inequities in Cancer Patients Despite a recent slowdown in overall spending, the United States spends more on health care than other high-income nations and still has some of the worst health results.
  • 177Lu-PSMA Radioligand Therapy for Prostate Cancer The therapy is proved to be safer and more effective than its alternatives, with a great deal of success in reducing PSMA.
  • Lung Cancer: Diagnostics and Treatment Thus, it is essential to invest in research about lung cancer and be aware of the factors that contribute to its emergence to protect themselves.
  • Khalaf’s Burden of Pancreatic Cancer Study Analysis The outcome factors in this study are that regular-dose and low-dose Aspirin were observed to decrease the risk of pancreatic cancer.
  • Cancer Blood Tests Saving Lives It is important to note that the article explores novel ways of cancer diagnostics and screening methods using blood tests for various signs of the condition.
  • Breast Cancer in Miami Florida The situation with the diagnosis of breast cancer is directly related to the availability of medicine in the state and the general awareness of the non-population.
  • Cancer Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People When compared to non-Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, also known as Indigenous Australians, are disadvantaged across a number of health and socioeconomic indices.
  • The Ethical Problem in the Case of the Cancer Patient On the other hand, urgently inducing the patient’s death may have been an administrative problem for the patient, and it is not sure that it was caused by the wife’s deliberate decision.
  • Cancer Treatment Strategies and Challenges Inspired by the merits of the natural nanovesicles and the state of the art of the advanced engineering versatility of synthetic nanomaterials, we previously presented the synthetic and biological hybrid exosomes for targeted synergistic chemo […]
  • Urinary Tract Infections and Pancreatic Cancer The laboratory technician is supposed to culture the urine and use Gram’s staining method to detect the microbes in the sample. The practitioners used a combination of mecillinam and cefotaxime to manage the condition.
  • Patient HealthCare: Early Diagnosis of Cancer The NCQA describes the three patients’ interventions and explains how the Nurse Practitioner explicitly measures the listed interventions’ effects. While the patient is in the clinic for routine care, problems with preventive tests and their […]
  • Machine Learning Algorithms in Cancer Detection One of the most fundamental tools for machine learning in cancer detection is the use of imaging, with the premise that prognostic data is embedded in pathology images and digital pathology can provide big data […]
  • Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Nutritional Influences A complete blood count is used to determine the precise number of each blood cell type in an individual, whereas a peripheral blood smear is used to determine alteration in the appearance and mobility of […]
  • Breast Cancer: Genetics and Malignancy In the presence of such conditions, the formation of atypical cells is possible in the mammary gland. In the described case, this aspect is the most significant since it includes various details of the patient’s […]
  • Video Consultations Between Patients and Clinicians in Diabetes, Cancer, and Heart Failure Services For example, during one of my interactions with the patient, I was asked whether the hospital had the policy to avoid face-to-face interaction during the pandemic with the help of video examinations.
  • Diets to Prevent Heart Disease, Cancer, and Diabetes In order to prevent heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, people are required to adhere to strict routines, including in terms of diet. Additionally, people wanting to prevent heart disease, cancer, and diabetes also need to […]
  • Skin Cancer: Description, Causes, and Treatment Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer; the three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
  • Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Its Prevalence and Incidence The purpose of this paper is to present the first part of the case study by describing the disease’s pathophysiology, treatment options, prevalence, and incidence.
  • Colon Cancer: Symptoms, Genes, and Immunosuppression Colon cancer is the type of cancer that starts in the large intestine, which is the last section of the digestive tract.
  • Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Causes, Origin, and Gene Mutation Apart from analyzing chromosome abnormalities present in patients with ALL, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the disorder’s origin, including primary causes and the process of gene mutations.
  • Researching the Colon Cancer and Nursing It is critical for the nurse to have trusted information about cancer tumors because many studies have indicated that patients appreciate and rely on the competence of nurses.
  • Nebraska State Department of Health Registries for Cancer and Immunization There is a need to report the progress of breast cancer in Nebraska to help do more research on preventing and introducing improved chemotherapy plans. Nebraska state has immunization and cancer registries which are helpful […]
  • Cancer Terminology and Characteristics Carcinomas arise from epithelial tissue, lymphomas are cancers of lymphatic tissue, leukemias are cancers of blood-forming cells, and sarcomas come from connective tissue.
  • The Cancer Cell Development: Causes and Sources Loss of function of suppressor genes resulting from mutations becomes the cause of cancer development: the cell divides abnormally, increasing the cell mass of the tissue.
  • Epidemiology: Lung Cancer Risk The continued exploration of the factors, as well as agents, leading to the spread of pandemics led to a quantitative and qualitative examination and the development of immunization to reduce infections.
  • Case Study for a Patient With Cancer Because Julia refused to continue chemotherapy and radiation treatment, her adenocarcinoma should be expected to get worse, which means she may need further services of a nurse, who would create plans for supportive care; as […]
  • Financing of Public Health Initiative on Prostate Cancer Additionally, they need to demonstrate to the public that the resources bestowed on them are adding value to the facilities they are in charge of.
  • Genetic Testing: Screening for Colon Cancer This disorder is characterized by the development of hundreds of thousands of adenomatous polyps in the colon and rectum early in life.
  • Cancer: Causes, Diagnostic and Treatment This article recommends that the new dietary patterns can be used to reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases. Vegetables can be used to reduce the occurrence of stomach cancer and colorectal cancer.
  • Prostate Cancer Among Blacks in Maryland: Public Health Initiative This paper evaluates the economic principles underlying community health needs assessment of the initiative and the health economics relevant to the utilization of the service.
  • New Gene Discovered That Stops Spread of Cancer At this point, it is crucial to mention that the discovery by the Salk institute is just a beginning of a long scientific journey that is anticipated to culminate in a comprehensive and conclusive study […]
  • Genes Cause Breast Cancer Evidence suggests the role of BRCA1 in DNA repair is more expansive than that of BRCA2 and involves many pathways. Therefore, it is suggested that BRCT ambit containing proteins are involved in DNA repair and […]
  • Do Cellphones Cause Brain Cancer? The reason for the worries is that cellphones emit RF energy that contains both electric and magnetic energy, and exposure to it may be unhealthy for a human being.
  • Cancer Survivorship and Reproductive Health Outcomes This life includes the social, emotional, psychological, and financial effects that start at the beginning of diagnosis and commences up to the final stage of the disease.
  • Patients With Cancer: The Importance of Early Referrals to Hospitals The purpose of this study was to prove the connection between early referrals to hospitals for patients with cancer and the possibility of a positive outcome of treatment for them.
  • Aspects of Testicular Cancer The cancer is narrowed to the testicles and the epididymis as the tumor markers level reads normal at the first stage and has not grown into the blood.
  • New Venture: Cancer Risks of Firefighters In my opinion, being a firefighter is not just a profession, it is the ability to come to the rescue, to have compassion, to feel pain, and to empathize with people who are in a […]
  • Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Genetic Features of Black Patients According to the researcher, the differences in the biological impact of disease and the socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in the disparity between the Blacks and the Whites in the recovery process.
  • Cancer Alley and Environmental Racism One of the sources under study is valuable, as it examines the current situation of the coronavirus and the impact of pollution on human health.
  • Descriptive Data Statistics: National Cancer Institute The definitions for the measures presented are as follows: Mean = sum of all data points / number of data points; Median = the value that’s exactly in the middle when it is ordered from […]
  • Colon Cancer: Treatment Options, Medication Research Colon cancer typically begins in the large intestine, which is at the end of the digestive tract and is called a colon.
  • Managing Patient With Pancreatic Cancer Overall, pancreatic cancer affects the cellular functioning of the pancreas and disrupts the operation of the digestive system. PanIN is the most common antecedent of pancreatic cancer and occurs in the small pancreatic ducts.
  • Cancer Medication and Treatment Alternatives: Project Proposal Indeed, despite the advances made in the management of cancer, particularly, the surgical removal of the tumor and the following therapy allowing to reduce health risks, cancer remains one of the major causes of death […]
  • Asbestos, Carcinogens, and Occupational Cancers: Insights from Dr. Demers With the cases of asbestos-related cancer rising and the vast amounts of asbestos existing in buildings, water pipes, and workplaces, there is a dire need for stringent policies to remove all asbestos from the environment.Dr.
  • Does the Sun Radiation Cause Skin Cancer? Moreover, from the article written by American Cancer Society, it is evident that Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B from the sun lead to skin cancer.
  • Light Use in Cancer Treatment The notable strength of this article is that it goes further to identify ZnPc-Q1 as a possible candidate for using light therapy in the treatment of cancer. In this work, the authors examine and describe […]
  • The Virus That Causes Throat Cancers The research article used after the insight of the summary in the New York Times was from the journal of American medical association.
  • Esophageal Cancer: Credible Internet Information Esophageal cancer has become one of the main forms of cancers which usually causes a lot of suffering to patients due to immense pain, difficulty in swallowing or dysphagia.
  • Breast Cancer. Service Management The trial specifically looks at the effect on breast-cancer mortality of inviting women to screening from age 40 years compared with invitation from age 50 years as in the current NHS breast-screening programme.
  • Fibrocystic Breast Condition or Breast Cancer? The presence of the fibrocystic breast condition means that the tissue of the breast is fibrous, and cysts are filled with the liquid or fluid. The main characteristic feature of this cancer is that it […]
  • Cervical Cancer: Causes and Treatment Cervical cancer develops in the cervix – the lower part of the uterus. It starts in a particular part of the cervix, where its squamous and glandular cells connect.
  • Analysis in Epidemiology: “Epithelial Ovarian Cancer and Oral Contraceptives” Therefore, in the current case, since the use of combination oral contraceptives reduces the occurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer, then the factors that affect the OCs MUST ALWAYS precede the factors affecting the occurrence of […]
  • Coping With Stress in Breast Cancer Patients Therefore, it is important for research experts to ensure and guarantee adherence to methodologies and guidelines that define scientific inquiry. However, various discrepancies manifest with regard to the initiation and propagation of research studies.
  • Breast Self-Examination and Breast Cancer Mortality Though it is harsh to dismiss self-exams entirely due to studies that indicate little in deaths of women who performed self-exams and those who did not, the self-exams should not be relied on exclusively as […]
  • Breast Self-Exams Curbing Breast Cancer Mortality The results of the study were consistent with the findings of other studies of the same nature on the effectiveness of breast self-examination in detecting and curbing breast cancer.
  • Prostate Cancer: Pathophysiology and Diagnostics The disease is normally multimodal in the prostate gland and just about 70% of the illness exists in the or the Peripheral zone.
  • Cancer: Factors of Prevention and Treatment The paper focuses on studying polyploidy/multinucleated giant cancer cells, calcium, BXL Protein, Acetylsalicylic Acid, and their specific roles in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
  • Herbal Therapy for Cancer Herbal therapy is a theoretical and practical medicine based on the scientific study and use of medicinal plants or drugs obtained from them for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes.
  • An Approach to Care of Cancer Overview Suspecting the presence of ovarian cancer is primarily based on a number of symptoms, especially abnormal physical examination, CT and NRI scans of the abdomen as well as the pelvis region.
  • Taxol Effectiveness in Inhibiting Breast Cancer Cells The following were the objectives of this experiment: To determine the effectiveness of Taxol in inhibiting breast cancer cells and ovarian cancer cells using culture method.
  • Control Breast Cancer: Nursing Phenomenon, Ontology and Epistemology of Health Management Then, the evidence received is presented in an expert way leading to implementation of the decision on the management of the disease.
  • Leukemia: Causes, Pathogenesis, Morphological Changes, Basic Management Studies are ongoing to establish the exact cause of the disease, which is still unknown according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
  • MD Anderson Cancer Center: Community Health Assessment The focus of the assessment is the city of Houston, Texas, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Most health issues are related to income disparities, immigration status, and the insurance status of Houston residents.
  • Researching the Ovarian Cancer In the European continent, for every 100,000 females, 12 to 17 will have ovarian cancer, depending on the nation of origin; this is the age-standardized rate. BRCA1 and BRCA2 profoundly account for the prevalence of […]
  • Local Inflammation and Human Papillomavirus Status of Head and Neck Cancers The objective of the study was to assess whether periodontitis is related to the human papillomavirus status of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
  • Throat Cancer With Diagnosis of Human Papillomavirus The infection by the HPVs often appears in the epithelium, particularly in the areas with tissue lesions. In this respect, by means of the RNA scope, it is possible to transcribe the HPV genome and […]
  • Breast Cancer: Effects of Breast Health Education The design of the research focused on research variables like skills, performance, self-efficacy, and knowledge as the researchers aimed at examining the effectiveness of these variables among young women who underwent training in breast cancer […]
  • Community Nursing Role in Breast Cancer Prevention However, early detection still remains important in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. The community has thus undertaken activities aimed at funding the awareness, treatment and research in order to reduce the number of […]
  • Radiotherapy: The Efficient Cancer Treatment Method The main purpose for the proposal of this policy is to increase the safety levels and promote efficiency in the delivery of radiotherapy services to patients.
  • Measuring the Uncertainty in Children With Cancer The Limitations of using Mishel Uncertainty Illness Scale and Children Uncertainty Illness Scale led to the development of Uncertainty scale for kids.
  • Self-Examination and Knowledge of Breast Cancer Among Female Students Shin, Park & Mijung found that a quarter of the participants practiced breast self-examination and a half had knowledge regarding breast cancer.
  • Prognosis in Ulcerative Colitis for Risk of Cancer After that the attempt was to extract the information about incidence of colon cancer in populations previously diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, to check whether the cancer risk increased with the duration of disease and finally […]
  • “Tracking Breast Cancer Cells on the Move” by Gomis The article serves the purpose of examining the role of NOG, a gene that is essential in bone development and its role in breast cancer.
  • Nutritional Assessment for Cancer Patients The consumption of fatty fish and a reduction in the consumption of unhealthy fats can reduce the risk of colon cancer that is brought about by the consumption of animal fat.
  • Cancer Treatment Measures in the Sydney Cancer Center Overall, the study enhanced the proper understanding of the effectiveness through the analysis of the number of health specialists working in the Sydney Cancer Centre and the number of cancer patients attended per day.
  • Association Between Pre-Diagnostic Circulating 25-(OH) D and Cancer This was what made the authors to undertake an investigation on correlation between pre-diagnostic of circulating 25- D concentration in the body and dietary intakes of vitamin D and calcium with colon and rectum cancer […]
  • Sonodynamic Therapy for Cancer Treatment Sonodynamic therapy also known as ultrasound therapy is a hopeful innovative cancer treatment method that focuses on synergistic effect on tumor cell killing of a photosensitizer and ultrasound. Cavitation refers to the growth, oscillation and […]
  • The Relationship Between Cancer and Lifestyle In addition, other lifestyle aspects, such as cigarette smoking, sun exposure and stress need to be addressed to reduce the risks of cancer.
  • Cancer: Angiogenesis, Recent Research, Ethical Concerns Zayed et al.’s research reveals that the CIB1 protein controlling the endothelial cell functions is the same as the one causing red blood cell formation in cancer tumors.
  • Breast Cancer Survivorship: Are African American Women Considered? The finding of the analysis is that the issue of cancer survivorship is exclusive, developing, and at the same time it depends on what individuals perceive to be cancer diagnosis as well as personal experiences […]
  • Gaining Ground on Breast Cancer: Advances in Treatment The article by Esteva and Hortobagyi discusses breast cancer from the aspect of increased survival rates, the novel treatments that have necessitated this and the promise in even more enhanced management of breast cancer.
  • Pain Management in Hillman Cancer Center’s Patients Medical and surgical approaches are considered to be the main ways for pain treatment in cancer patients. Advanced stages of cancer result into a multidimensional pain and are where the clinical psychologists step in.
  • Ovarian Cancer: Description and Treatment In applying various treatment options, it is important for doctors to ensure that they understand all options, means of navigating through the process, as well as the development stage of the cancer.
  • Effects of Hypoxia, Surrounding Fibroblasts, and p16 Expression on Breast Cancer The study was conducted to determine whether migration and invasion of breast cancer cells were stimulated by hypoxia, as well as determining whether the expression of p16 ectopically had the potential to modulate the cell […]
  • Breast Cancer: Preventing, Diagnosing, Addressing the Issue In contrast to the MRI, which presupposes that the image of the tissue should be retrieved with the help of magnetic fields, the mammography tool involves the use of x-rays.
  • Smoking and Lung Cancer Among African Americans Primarily, the research paper provides insight on the significance of the issue to the African Americans and the community health nurses.
  • Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in Adult Patients Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the cancer of the blood and the bone marrow. The final type of lymph cells is natural killer cells whose role in the body is to nullify the effect of cancerous […]
  • Dietary Fat Intake and Development of Breast Cancer This study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary fat intake and the development of breast cancer in women. The outcome of the study strongly suggests that there is a close relationship between a high […]
  • The Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer The severity of cancer depends on the movement of the cancerous cells in the body and the division and growth or cancerous cells.
  • Smoking and Cancer in the United States In this research study, data on tobacco smoking and cancer prevalence in the United States was used to determine whether cancer in the United States is related to tobacco smoking tobacco.
  • Prostate Cancer: Preventive Approaches and Treatment However, the case of prostate cancer seems to oppose this ideology; hence, the purpose of this paper is to understand preventive approaches and therapies used to manage prostate cancer.
  • Skin Cancer: Comparison of Samples The aim of this experiment is to examine and thereafter represent low and high power illustrations of a normal skin specimen and of skin specimens that have been affected by various forms types of skin […]
  • The Female Reproductive System and Ovarian Cancer The ovary is the one of the central organs of the female reproductive system. The zona granulosa is the exterior layer of cells enclosing the follicles.
  • Property Rights to the Cancer Genes The easiest way to understand the protection of patents and the rationale behind them is by appreciating the fact that patents are part of human rights.
  • Dietary Approach to Colon Cancer Prevention These research findings appear to support the hypothesis that the presence of folate in the diet is linked to the risk factor for colon cancer.
  • Treatment of Ovarian Cancer Factors that predispose women to ovarian cancer include infertility, use of certain medication, hormone replacement therapy, use of oral contraceptives, and party.
  • The Pennsylvania Cancer Registry (PCR) This data is essential in that, doctors or clinical experts are able to identify the form of treatment to be provided to each cancer patient, to follow up on the patients’ progress, give any necessary […]
  • Breast Cancer: WMI Research and the Current Approaches Although the conclusions provided by the WHI in the study conducted to research the effects of estrogen and progesterone cessation on the chance of developing a breast cancer do not comply with the results of […]
  • Oesophageal Cancer as a Global Health Concern The incidence of oesophageal cancer is high in various parts of the world, but for the purposes of this paper, China will be the region of focus.
  • Using Genetically-Modified Bacteria to Fight Cancer at Johns Hopkins To do so, a concise summary of the article will be provided, followed by a review of its relevance to the course.
  • Skin Cancer and Sunlight: Case Control, Cohort, and Clinical Trial Design The main component in sunlight that is said to be responsible for the development of skin cancer is the Ultraviolet emission.
  • Battle Against Cancer in New York State On the other hand, the cancer goals for New York target to reduce the new forms of the disease as well as the various disabilities and body deformations resulting from cancer.
  • Various Proteins Targets for Lung, Breast and Colorectal Cancers This protein has been identified in recent research as the one playing the biggest role in causing the growth and the spread of cancer in the lungs.
  • Global Health Organization – World-Cancer Campaign The organization can collaborate with other organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the International Council of Nurses to tackle the cancer crisis.
  • Healthcare: Colon Cancer The colon refers to the longest section of the large gut and the most low-down section of the digestive arrangement in the human body.
  • Dosage & Regimen for MEK Inhibitor: Cancer Clinical Trial The study is a treatment trial aimed at designing the correct dose of GSK1120212. The trial is aimed at determining the dosage and regimen for MEK inhibitor that should be mixed with everolimus in order […]
  • Breast Cancer Susceptibility Gene (BRCA2) The mechanisms underlying the genetic predisposition to a particular disease are manifold and this concept is the challenging one to the investigators since the advent of Molecular Biology and database resources.
  • Prostate Cancer Pathophysiology and Management At the moment, the use of tumour markers such as kallikrein is the most widespread method of differentiating these two disorders.
  • Terminal Cancer Patients: Community Nursing The sole purpose of any nursing activity during any given kind of illness and end-of-life stage is to maximize the quality of life and functioning for individuals, families, and the community at large.
  • Esophageal Cancer Overview and Analysis Esophageal Cancer mainly refers to the growths that forms within the tissues that line the walls of the esophagus; the tube composed of muscles that aid the passage of the food from the exterior opening […]
  • Ovarian Cancer Overview and Analysis However, several factors have been deemed to contribute to the risk of developing ovarian cancer, for instance, the lesser children a woman has and the later in life she bears children, the higher the chances […]
  • Prediction of Breast Cancer Prognosis It has been proposed that the fundamental pathways are alike and that the expression of gene sets, instead of that of individual genes, may give more information in predicting and understanding the basic biological processes.
  • The Genetic Basis of Human Cancer This is one of the most difficult in curing, as it may affect any part of the body, and seriously damage the body tissues.
  • Breast Cancer Survivors: Effects of a Psychoeducational Intervention While the conceptual framework is justified in analysis of the quality of life, there is the likelihood of influence of the context with quality of life adopting different meanings to patients in different areas and […]
  • Cancer and Oxygenation: Oxygen as a Remedy for Cancer Cancer is simply the decrease of oxygen in body cells to levels low enough to allow for a change in the nature of the cells.
  • Cancer: Gene Mutation’s Influence, Treatments As such, it could be safely argued that cancers are generally occasioned by the accumulation of mutations in our own genes, a process that leads the genes to decisively alter the behavior of cells, further […]
  • The Effective Pain Assessment in Patients With Lung Cancer The facilitators to the proper handling of pain in a patient by both patients and the caretakers are enablers while those that hinder the proper management of pain are called barriers to proper pain management. […]
  • Providers’ Role in Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening In order to ensure the quality assurance of mammography, the providers involved in the procedure need to be aware of the roles they ought to play.
  • Framing Qualitative Research on Lung Cancer The aim of this essay is to discuss three pertinent questions that are of benefit to healthcare providers and in a way have the capability to increase the awareness of the professionals about the life […]
  • Oncology: Colorectal Cancer The APC gene produces the APC protein which is the main “brake” to the beta-catenin therefore in the case of colorectal cancer the APC gene is mutated hence also the APC protein is mutated thus […]
  • Prostate Cancer: Symptoms and Treatment
  • Clinical Laboratory Science of Breast Cancer
  • Induced and Spontaneous Abortion and Breast Cancer Incidence Among Young Women
  • Quality of Life in Chronic Leukemia Patients
  • Dyspnea in Cancer Patients
  • Ovarian Cancer: Medical Review
  • Lung Cancer Cells Migrating to Other Parts of the Body
  • Prostate Cancer: The Ion Channels
  • To Live Until You Die: Palliative Care in Cancer Experience
  • Care Needs of Children Whose Parents Have Incurable Cancer
  • New Screening Guidelines for Breast Cancer
  • Breast Cancer in Afro- and Euro-Americans
  • Cancer Treatment and Life Quality in Adult Patients
  • Breast Cancer Assessment in London
  • Oral Cancer Reconstruction
  • Skin Cancer Awareness Overview
  • Angiostatic Approaches to Cancer Therapy
  • Genetics of Prostate Cancer and Physical Features
  • Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Investigation
  • Creativity in People With Cancer
  • Cancer: Alternative and Complementary Therapies
  • Promotion of Cardiovascular Health and Cancer Prevention
  • Cancer Longitudinal Exploration
  • Breast Cancer: At-Risk Population, Barriers, and Improvement
  • Effective Solutions to the Prevention of Cervical Cancer
  • Breast Cancer: Moral and Medical Aspects
  • Breast Cancer and AIDS: Significant Issues in the United States in the Late 20th Century
  • Breast Cancer Risk Factors: Genetic and Nutritional Influences
  • Breast Cancer Genetics & Chromosomal Analysis
  • The Role Genetics Information Plays in Treating Cancer
  • Breast Cancer: The Case of Anne H.
  • Leukemia Types: Characteristics, Genetics, and Symptoms
  • CRISPR and Cas-9 Technology as the Solution to Cancer
  • Colon Cancer: Risk Factors
  • World Health Organization Cancer Website Tool
  • Long Distance Cancer Treatment Ethics
  • A Community Capacity-Enhancement Approach to Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening
  • The Role of Inflammation in Cancer
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Plan for Cancer Pain
  • Psychosocial Factors & Immune Mechanisms in Cancer Regulation
  • Fundraising Methods for the Canadian Cancer Society
  • Nutrition and Cancer Rates
  • Language and Stigmatization: Cancer, HIV, and AIDS
  • J. Overcash on Older Adults With Cancer
  • Postmenopause Hormone Therapy and Endometrial Cancer
  • Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer
  • When the Smoke Clears: The Story About the Lung Cancer
  • Motivational Interviewing as a Smoking Cessation Intervention for Patients With Cancer
  • Genetic Predisposition to Breast Cancer: Genetic Testing
  • Breast Cancer: Causes and Treatment
  • The History of Cervical Cancer: Treatment and Care
  • Ethics of Leukemia Treatment With Disabled HIV Cells
  • Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Cancer
  • The American Cancer Society’s Website Evaluation
  • Acute Lymphocytic and Myelogenous Leukemia in Children
  • Viruses as a Cause of Cancer
  • Chronic Diseases: Heart Failure and Cancer
  • Pain Reduction Metods for Cancer Patients
  • Lung Cancer Stages, Complications, and Support
  • Breast Cancer: Women’s Health Initiative & Practices
  • Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Pathophysiology
  • Cervical Cancer and Women’s Health
  • Cannabis and Cancer Pain Management
  • Breast Cancer: Health Psychology Plan
  • Colorectal Cancer Patient’s Discharge Planning
  • Cancer Epidemic Research and Expectations
  • Best Practices in Breast Cancer Care
  • Carcinoma in Situ Management Options
  • Cancer Epidemiology in the United States
  • ”Preferences for Photographic Art Among Hospitalized Patients With Cancer” by Hanson ET Al.
  • Oncology: Innovative Solutions to Fight Cancer
  • Cancer, Its Nature and Gene Therapy
  • Body pH and Cancer Occurrence Correlation
  • Cancer: Psychological Effects and Coping Strategies
  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Women With Breast Cancer
  • Alcohol and Smoking Impact on Cancer Risk
  • Decision-Making in Cancer MDT
  • Ovarian Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
  • Establishing a Cancer Treatment Unit in a Hospital
  • Cancer Behavior in the Elderly: Cognitive-Affective Analysis
  • Cancer Alley: Environmental Justice Analysis
  • Blood Test and Cancer Spread in Children
  • Reverse Mutation Concept in Cancer Biology
  • Cancer and Tumor Suppressor Genes
  • Skin Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer
  • Thyroid Cancer Chemotherapy
  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Immunoglobulin M
  • Colorectal Cancer Screening in the USA
  • Breast Cancer Screening in Young American Women
  • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Cancer Patients
  • Prostate Cancer Among African American Men in New York
  • Hexokinase 2 Enzyme in Cancer Treatment
  • Cancer Screening in Lesbians, Gays, Transgenders
  • Air Pollution as a Factor for Renal Cancer
  • Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Plan
  • Cancer Treatment Effects on Sexual Function
  • Protein Diet, Telomere Length, and Cancer
  • Nursing for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Patient
  • Children With Cancer and Schooling Challenges
  • Epigenetics and Its Role in Cancer Detection and Prevention
  • Screening for Breast Cancer
  • The Role of Epigenetics in Cancer: Contributors to the Formation of Cancer Tumors
  • Cancer and Women’s and Men’s Health
  • Prostate Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
  • Prostate Cancer and Age-Related Risk Factors
  • Gua Sha in Cancer Therapy Against Myalgia
  • Cervical Cancer and Risk Factors
  • Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
  • Cervical Cancer: Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy
  • Testicular Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Organic Foods Consumption and Cancer Prevention
  • Prostate Cancer, Its Genetics and Prevention Methods
  • Cancer Epidemiology Among Chinese Americans
  • Colorectal Cancer, Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
  • Prostate Cancer Symptoms and Laboratory Tests
  • Skin Cancer in Australia and Health Campaign
  • Obesity as a Risk Factor for Uterine Cancer
  • Palliative Care for Cancer Patients: Search Strategies
  • Palliative Care for Adult Cancer Patients
  • Palliative Care for Adult Patients With Cancer
  • Breast Cancer Patients’ Functions and Suitable Jobs
  • Jordanian Breast Cancer Survival Rates in 1997-2002
  • Breast Cancer Awareness Among African Americans
  • Cancer Disease and Its Impact
  • Breast Cancer Screening Among Non-Adherent Women
  • Cancer Patient’s Autonomy and Medical Ethics
  • Breast Cancer: Treatment and Rehabilitation Options
  • Women Healthcare: Breast Cancer
  • Skin Cancer: Types and Cells of Origin
  • Prevention of Cancer: Good Nutrition and Positive Behavior
  • Lung Cancer Disease and Prevention Methods
  • Breast Cancer Public Relations Campaign
  • Technologies: Improving the MD Anderson Cancer Center Website
  • Explanation of Cancer Disease
  • Gallbladder Cancer, Its Causes and Rates
  • Health Information Seeking and Breast Cancer Diagnosis
  • Stem Cell Therapy in Colorectal Cancer
  • Employing Cancer Vulnerability Reduction in Ukraine
  • International Expansion Strategy of Australia Cancer Care Hospital.
  • American Cancer Society History
  • Asbestos and Rising of Cancer
  • The Problem of Skin Cancer in Australia
  • Health Outcome of Tobacco Use: Lung Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer Treatment
  • Breast Cancer: Disease Prevention
  • Breast Cancer Definition and Treatment
  • Radiation Therapy for Testicular Cancer
  • Breast Cancer Incidence and Ethnicity
  • Treatment Options for Breast Cancer
  • Cancer Treatment by Nanotechnology
  • Health Risks and Prevention: Cardiovascular Disease and Cancers
  • Healthcare Demographics of Prostate Cancer in the US
  • Malevolence of Cancer: Pathogenesis and Treatment Options
  • Risk Factors, Staging, and Treatment of Breast Cancer
  • Case Management for Breast Cancer Patients
  • DNA Essay Ideas
  • Biochemistry Research Topics
  • Genetics Research Ideas
  • Human Papillomavirus Paper Topics
  • Stem Cell Essay Titles
  • Nursing Care Plan Paper Topics
  • Health Promotion Research Topics
  • Diabetes Questions
  • Chicago (A-D)
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Cancer Biology Research

Three-dimensional culture of human breast cancer cells, with DNA stained blue and a protein in the cell surface membrane stained green.

Breast cancer cells

The Importance of Cancer Biology Research

Research on the biology of cancer starts with the simplest of questions: What is—and isn’t—normal? To understand how cancer develops and progresses, researchers first need to investigate the biological differences between normal cells and cancer cells. This work focuses on the mechanisms that underlie fundamental processes such as cell growth, the transformation of normal cells to cancer cells, and the spread ( metastasis ) of cancer cells.

Virtually all major advances against cancer originated with discoveries in basic science . Basic research can reveal new ideas about the causes of cancer and how it develops, progresses, and responds to therapy.

Knowledge gained from such studies deepens our understanding of cancer and produces insights that could lead to new clinical interventions. For example, studies of cell signaling pathways  in normal cells and cancer cells have contributed greatly to our knowledge about the disease, revealing molecular alterations that are shared among different types of cancer and pointing to possible treatment strategies.

Decades of basic research in cancer biology have created a broad base of knowledge that has been critical to progress against the disease.

Selected NCI Activities in Cancer Biology Research

National Cancer Plan

NCI Research and the National Cancer Plan

NCI supports a broad variety of research that aligns with the goals of the National Cancer Plan. Read about the plan and explore each goal.

Federal funding for cancer biology is essential because this area of research receives relatively little funding from entities that are driven by profit. NCI supports and directs cancer biology research through a variety of programs and approaches. For example:

  • The Metastasis Research Network (MetNet) supports research to improve our understanding of how cancer spreads. Cancer metastasis is a complex, dynamic, nonlinear process. The network supports several specialized centers working collaboratively on multidisciplinary projects focused on several themes of the metastatic process, including mechanisms of early dissemination, cellular and physical microenvironment crosstalk, dormancy, and mechanisms of responses to therapy by metastatic cells.
  • The Translational and Basic Science Research in Early Lesions (TBEL) Program is advancing the understanding of the mechanisms driving, or restraining, the development of precancers and early cancers, as well as informing the development of precision prevention approaches. The program supports multidisciplinary research centers that are integrating basic and translational research to investigate the interactions of an early lesion, its microenvironment, and host factors as “co-organizers” of tumor initiation and the development of cancer.
  • The Human Tumor Atlas Network is constructing 3-dimensional atlases of the cellular, morphological, and molecular features of human cancers as they evolve from precancerous lesions to advanced disease. The atlases, which represent a diverse patient population, will also be used to study how tumors respond to treatment and develop resistance to drugs.
  • The Cancer Tissue Engineering Collaborative (TEC) supports the development and characterization of state-of-the-art biomimetic tissue-engineered technologies for cancer research. This program advances innovative, well-characterized in vitro and ex vivo systems available for cancer research, expands the breadth of these systems to several cancer types, and promotes investigations of cancer with tissue-engineered systems.

Two people in white lab coats discussing something on a tablet.

NCI Fiscal Year 2025 Professional Judgment Budget Proposal

Each year, NCI prepares a professional judgment budget to lead progress against cancer.

  • The consortium of tumor glycomics laboratories and their research partners that make up the Alliance of Glycobiologists for Cancer Research are investigating the cancer-related dynamics of complex carbohydrates. The alliance, which NCI sponsors with the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, aims to study the structure and function of glycans in relation to cancer.
  • The NCI RNA Biology Initiative facilitates the exchange of information and expertise among investigator studying the structure, function, and biological roles of RNA for the purpose of developing new cancer diagnostics and therapies.
  • NCI’s Centers of Excellence bring together the institute’s intramural researchers to collaborate on new projects and initiatives in various areas of cancer biology, including Chromosome Biology and Genitourinary Malignancies .

Recent Research Findings in Cancer Biology

  • Technique targeting cell marker boosts treatment options for B-cell lymphomas
  • Scientists Link a Single Type of Bacteria to Colorectal Cancer
  • Stress-Induced Immune Changes May Help Cancer Spread
  • Manipulating an Immune Cell May Make Radiation Therapy More Effective, Study Suggests
  • Antibody Drug Ejects Problematic Proteins from Cancer Cells
  • Molecular Burglary: Cancer Cells Hijack Energy from Immune Cells
  • A Better Biomarker for Cancer Immunotherapy?
  • New Class of Compounds Rewires Cancer Cells to Self-Destruct
  • Breast Cancer Paper Topics Topics: 145
  • Chlamydia Research Topics Topics: 52
  • Asthma Topics Topics: 155
  • Dorothea Orem’s Theory Research Topics Topics: 85
  • Heart Attack Topics Topics: 54
  • Hypertension Essay Topics Topics: 155
  • Communicable Disease Research Topics Topics: 58
  • Arthritis Paper Topics Topics: 58
  • Patient Safety Topics Topics: 148
  • Hepatitis Essay Topics Topics: 57
  • Heart Disease Topics Topics: 150
  • Heart Failure Essay Topics Topics: 83
  • Nursing Theory Research Topics Topics: 207
  • Tuberculosis Paper Topics Topics: 133
  • STDs Essay Topics Topics: 134

272 Cancer Research Topics for Undergraduates and High School Students

Are you looking for the best oncology research topics? You’re at the right place! StudyCorgi has prepared a list of cancer research topics for undergraduates and high school students! Read on to find a good title for your projects or term papers on prostate, breast, and other cancer types.

🏆 Best Research Topics on Cancer

✍️ cancer essay topics for college, 👍 good cancer research topics & essay examples, 📝 current cancer titles for essays, 🎓 interesting cancer topics to write about, 💡 simple cancer research paper topics, 📌 easy cancer essay topics, ❓ questions about cancer research, 🗣️ cancer topics for presentation, 🏥 cancer project ideas.

  • The Cobalt-60 Machine in the Fight Against Cancer
  • Breast Cancer: Literature Review
  • The Colon Cancer: Main Aspects
  • Cervical Cancer: Pathophysiological Processes
  • Deathography of Cancer
  • Nutritional “Cures” for Clients With Cancer or HIV-AIDS
  • Physical and Mental Care for Cancer Patients
  • Cancer Treatment Research: Informed Consent The paper contains an informed consent letter inviting to become a part of the research project dedicated to cancer treatment methods in Hispanic patients.
  • Cancer Management: Effective Diagnosis, Treatment, Lessening the Effects of Complications Cancer refers to any dangerous and abnormal mass of tissue caused by hysterical dissection of cells in the body. Effective management of cancer entails timely and effective diagnosis.
  • Case Brief on Colon Cancer and Colostomy The paper presents a medical case brief on a 54-year-old patient suffering from colon cancer who had undergone a surgery known as colostomy.
  • The Epidemiology of Breast Cancer in Young Women The researcher has clearly outlined the essence of the referenced study as aimed at reviewing the epidemiology of breast cancer in young women.
  • Genetic Alterations and Cancer The paper will discuss cancer symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, side-effects of treatment, and also its link with a genetic alteration.
  • Approach to Care. Human Cancer Cancer is a group of diseases caused by the uncontrolled division of cells. There is a great variety of cancers, and they are ranked by the type of sell, which the tumor imitates.
  • Disease Research: Breast Cancer Breast cancer is a multifactorial, complex illness that demands proper clinical understanding and a multidisciplinary way to determine diagnosis and treatment.
  • Evaluating Intrinsic and Non-Intrinsic Cancer Risk Factors Cancer is a disease that can affect every cell of the human body and is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells that can divide and invade surrounding tissues.
  • Cervical Cancer in the UK Cervical cancer is one of the most common diseases affecting women, and has a significant amount of lethal outcomes.
  • Approach to the Care of Cancer This paper discusses cancer, including the approach to cancer care, cancer complications and side effects, and the ways of addressing the side effects.
  • Macmillan Cancer Support Organization’s Data-Driven Decision-Making Macmillan Cancer Support Organization’s stakeholders must examine the cancer care workforce and predict how the future ratio might look for strategic management.
  • Low-Income Men With Prostate Cancer The paper shows the clinical importance of post-treatment prostate cancer. Low-income disadvantaged men face various barriers, including knowledge.
  • Cancer Patients: The Effectiveness of Pain Diary The pain diary assists the cancer patients in pain management by helping them to identify the nature of pain and where it is localized.
  • Epidemiology of Breast Cancer in UK As of 2011, the incidences of breast cancer have been increasing continuously over forty years. Also, there was a general reduction in the rate of mortality caused by breast cancer.
  • Pathology the Respiratory System: Lung Cancer Lung cancer is among the leading causes of death through respiratory illnesses and it has posed a major challenge to the global healthcare system.
  • The New Cancer Cure Cancer is caused by cells that grow out of control in the human body thereby forming body masses known as tumors.
  • Cancer Prevalence and Health Care More than 5 million people living today in the US are living with cancer. Sixty three percent of 65 years and above have had cancer.
  • “Preferences for Photographic Art Among Hospitalized Patients With Cancer” the Article by Hanson, H., Schroeter, K., Hanson, A., Asmus, K., & Grossman, A. The present article reports on one of many research studies that aim to contribute to the body of knowledge regarding complementary therapy for patients with cancer.
  • Recommendations for Breast Cancer Screening: USPSTF Guidelines This paper aims to give a proper recommendation for breast cancer screening under USPSTF guidelines while considering the differences in patients’ epidemiology.
  • Cancer Patients and Survivors Support Group This paper dwells upon some peculiarities of managing a support group consisting of young adult cancer patients and cancer survivors.
  • Breast Cancer and Effective Medical Treatment The aim of this paper is to characterize breast cancer and to describe the modern methods of its treatment and prevention.
  • Approaches to Cancer Care Cancer is one of the most significant health problems of the modern society. Various types of cancer threaten or take the lives of thousands of people.
  • Massage Therapy vs. Simple Touch to Improve Pain and Mood in Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Trial The primary objective of this qualitative research is to understand the people’s perception of a particular issue. Qualitative researches focus on a holistic description.
  • Lung Cancer and Colorectal Cancer The rate of lung cancer is indeed lower in China when compared to Canada. Colorectal cancer is on the top list of cancerous diseases that kill people.
  • Epigenetic Drugs for Cancer Treatment Cancer is a disease that requires special attention since it is not curable in all cases. However, scientists are developing new epigenetic drugs, which include HDAC inhibitors.
  • A Critical Examination of WHO Screening and Treatment Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Cervical cancer is a devastating illness that affects women all over the world and continues to represent a serious threat to their health.
  • Conference: Breast Cancer Survival In the medical sphere, cancer studies are one of the most essential and necessary specialties. For millions of cancer patients worldwide, life is a continued fight for survival.
  • Colorectal Cancer and Other Cancer Signs and Diagnoses The reasons for increased colorectal cancer rates and decreased cervical cancer rates in Western society may be related to preferred lifestyles.
  • Colorectal Cancer Screening and Its Importance Colorectal cancer screening is recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force as an effective way to reduce disease-related morbidity and mortality.
  • Researching of Cervical Cancer In its initial stages, the cancer process is asymptomatic and is only detected during an extensive gynecological examination.
  • Cancer Treatment Process Perceived by Women With Ovarian Cancer The current paper explores how the process of treating ovarian cancer affects the well-being and physical and emotional state of women.
  • Smoking and Gender Factors of Lung Cancer The rising prevalence of lung cancer in young females compared to young males is widespread and not entirely explained by gender variations in smoking habits.
  • The Importance of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention In the last few decades, the role that diet and nutrition play in the development, progress, and management of cancer has become an important area of study.
  • Breast Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment Recent efforts from medical professionals and interest groups like Breast Cancer Awareness Month facilitate open discussion around breast cancer.
  • Bilateral Mastectomy for Breast Cancer Prevention One of the options for preventing the development of breast cancer is a bilateral mastectomy. But it may not be a good preventive choice for genetic markers of breast cancer.
  • Drug Repurposing in Cancer Treatment This article examines the concept of drug repurposing in the context of pharmaceutical companies’ innovation policy: the methods and economic feasibility of repurposing drugs.
  • Cancer: Disease Specifics and RNA-Based Detection The paper presents the analysis of cancer as one of the most common causes of death. It shows that there are many types of this disease.
  • Stomach Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment Stomach cancer is a malignant neoplasm that develops in the organ’s gastric mucosa cells and first affecting the epithelium and then growing into the stomach tissue.
  • Breast Cancer: Diagnostic and Treatment Breast cancer is one of the most common oncology disorders among females. It has a complicated chain of immune reactions and various structures identified histologically.
  • The Science Behind Obesity and Its Impact on Cancer The paper addresses the connection between cancer and physical activity, diet, and obesity in Latin America and the USA. The transitions in dietary practices may be observed.
  • Thyroid Cancer as a Public Health Issue Due to the explosion and fire at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, a huge quantity of radioactive iodine and cesium penetrated the air.
  • EBP Guideline for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network The National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical guidelines are the recognized standard and most synoptic evidence-based practice policies.
  • The Ethics of Control Groups in Cancer Research A study is proposed to determine whether women with breast cancer who underwent a mastectomy have a higher rate of survival.
  • Health-Related Misconceptions Regarding Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer There is a myth about the use of antiperspirants, especially aluminum-containing ones, as a risk factor for breast cancer.
  • Physical Activity and Cancer Prevention Physical activity (PA) has to be efficient in preventing cancer, evading cancer repetition, and increasing good results.
  • Social Determinants of Health and Cancer A larger population of the black community suffering from cancer loses their lives while receiving treatment at the hospital due to failed cancer care.
  • Esophageal Cancer: Description, Population Affected, and Prognosis In esophageal cancer, malignant cells develop in the esophagus tissues, leading to tumor formation; it accounts for 1% of all malignancies diagnosed in the USA each year.
  • Diet, Physical Activity, Obesity, and Related Cancer Risk One’s health is affected by their lifestyle, which should be well managed since childhood to set a basis for a healthier adulthood.
  • The Cancer Trial: Useful Medical Tool A cancer trial is a tool that helps medical professionals examine and trace the illness to develop its background and establish treatment methods.
  • Cancer Screening Promotion for Middle-Aged Adults Public health policy among middle-aged adults that promotes cancer literacy and the importance of frequent screenings is likely to yield positive results.
  • Naturalistic Observation of Couples Coping With Breast Cancer Couples who are suffering with cancer and their spouses’ psychological well-being were explored in study, which focused on the natural setting and substance of dialogues.
  • Passive Smoking and Pancreatic Cancer in Women The association between ETS and pancreatic cancer is weak. The pancreatic cancer risk associated is confounded by environmental tobacco smoke exposures.
  • Breast Cancer: Preventive Measures and Support Methods One of the most common types of cancer that women encounter worldwide is breast cancer. This disease was the cause of approximately 570,000 deaths in 2015.
  • Health & Medicine: Breast Cancer in XIX Century The disease of breast cancer was a disease of women, which began to be actively noticed from the beginning of the nineteenth century.
  • Environmentally and Lifestyle Linked Cancer The paper argues it is critical to clearly understand the causes of cancer to avoid public misinformation that’s why the paper presents etiology and diagnosis of cancer.
  • Lung Cancer Pathophysiology Like any other type of cancer, tumors in lungs have a characteristic of an uncontrolled cell growth that takes places in lung tissues.
  • Post-operative Breast Cancer Patients With Depression: Annotated Bibliography This paper is an annotated bibliography about risk reduction strategies at the point of care: Post-operative breast cancer patients who are experiencing depression.
  • How to Lower your Cancer Risk. Nutrition Action Health Letter Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells. If a person is genetically predisposed to the disease, it can be difficult to avoid getting it.
  • Herceptin and Breast Cancer Treatment Cancer growth is a series of processes that are driven by alterations of genes that bring about the progressive conversion of usual body cells into extremely malignant imitation.
  • The Diagnosis and Staging of Cancer The essay describes the diagnosis of cancer. It also highlights three complications associated with cancer. The discussion offers a detailed approach towards better care of cancer.
  • Breast Cancer: The Story of One Patient It is fascinating to trace the gradual transformation of a person throughout a history of the illness. The story of one patient who was diagnosed with breast cancer.
  • HIV-AIDS, Nutrition and Cancer in Society Patients suffering from HIV/AIDS need to have a perfect schedule for their nutrition. It is important that they watch their diet to boost their immunity.
  • BRCA Gene Mutation and Breast Cancer This study aims to determine how BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene mutations contribute to breast cancer, to analyze the role of BRCA1 and BRCA 2 in the restoration of the damaged DNA.
  • Postoperative Breast Cancer Care The chosen for the paper articles support the implementation of risk reduction strategies for depression in post-operative breast cancer patients.
  • Public Health Initiative on Prostrate Cancer Among Maryland’s Blacks The primary goal of the public health initiative is to improve the quality of life for all people in the US and reduce the racial prostate cancer disparities.
  • Researching of Testicular Cancer Men with undescended testicles are at increased risk of developing testicular cancer. If the undescended testicle is not in the groin but in the abdomen, the risk is even higher
  • Skin Cancer Prevention in Australia Skin cancer, or melanoma, is the abnormal behavior of skin cells that is mainly caused by prolonged exposure of unprotected skin to ultraviolet rays.
  • Lung and Bronchus Cancer in Smoking Americans Among the causes of lung and bronchus cancer, smoking is the first to be distinguished, which is the reason for the vast majority of incidence cases.
  • Breast Cancer and Exercise. Article Summary The research study focused on breast cancer survivors in the Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute (RMCRI) who had already been treated.
  • Addressing Cancer: The Nursing Process Nurses must use as much information and resources as possible to offer the highest-quality patient-oriented care.
  • Dental Caries Among Survivors of Childhood Cancer Some professionals considered caries to be one of the long-term health consequences experienced after cancer while others do not support such an idea.
  • The Risk Factors of Breast Cancer This paper will throw light upon what breast cancer is all about, the risk factors, the distribution, and determinants of the same.
  • A Collaborative Stress Management Initiative for Mothers of Cancer Children The article explored the psychological stress experienced by mothers who have cancerous children. The research is current and relevant to contemporary health issues.
  • Multicausality: Reserpine, Breast Cancer, and Obesity All the factors are not significant in the context of the liability to breast cancer development, though their minor influence is undeniable.
  • Reducing Cancer Risk With Diet and Lifestyle Change This paper explores the reasons why a strict diet together with changes in lifestyle could significantly reduce the risk of cancer.
  • Understanding Epigenetic Mechanisms in Breast Cancer Human cells become cancerous when they undergo genetic modifications that make them acquire growth and multiplication advantages.
  • Prostate Cancer Among the Blacks in the State of Maryland Empirical evidence reveals that race or ethnicity is the leading risk factor in the predisposition of men to prostate cancer.
  • Breast Cancer: Etiology, Signs and Symptoms Breast cancer is believed to have claimed many human lives in the last four decades, but its prevalence rate has decreased significantly due to improved disease awareness.
  • Behavioral Theory: Education Program for Oral Cancer This article uses the social learning theory and the theory of planned behavior to demonstrate the tenets of an effective health education program for the prevention of oral cancer.
  • Factors of Older Adults’ Decision on Cancer Treatment Puts et al. conducted a qualitative study in order to establish the factors that affect the elderly in making a decision to accept or reject cancer treatment.
  • Health Promotion to Reduce Lung Cancer: Grant Proposal Template The project aims to reduce the rate of lung cancer infection and deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South Australia.
  • Optimal Care For Patients With All Forms of Cancer The nursing profession can benefit from several findings in this study. Optimal care for patients with all forms of cancer can indeed improve the quality of life.
  • Breast Cancer: Pathophysiology, Types and Treatment Breast cancer is a common malignant neoplastic disease in women and mostly develops in the stage of women postmenopausal.
  • “Identifying Dietary Patterns Compatible With the Reduction of Cancer Risk” Article Review The review analyzes the purpose of the study aimed at assessing the viability of building healthy eating guidelines in four international settings.
  • Processed Meat Consumption Causes Pancreatic Cancer In the United States, more than 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer annually, whereas in Europe over 60,000 people suffer from pancreatic cancer yearly.
  • Cancer Treatment and Role of Nurses The primary purpose of this paper is to draw attention to current issues related to the treatment of cancer and the role of nurses.
  • Cancer Biology: Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes This paper seeks to interpret the role oncogenes and tumor suppressors play in transformation during cancer formation.
  • Addressing Risk Factors for Lung Cancer Lung cancer cannot be pinpointed to a particular cause. The first prevention measure is ceasing smoking as cigarettes carry chemicals poisonous to the lungs.
  • Wellness Programs for Colorectal Cancer In this plan, the researcher intends to give a clear intervention plan that can help address the problem of colorectal cancer that has affected so many elderly people in our society.
  • Skin Cancer Types, Cells of Origin Melanoma is the severest form of skin cancer that grows quickly, and it can appear as a spot of a red, brown, black, or grey color with asymmetric sides.
  • Breast Cancer: Research Review Paper Plenty of scholars’ investigations help doctors, nurses, and patients to take precautionary and care measures to improve their physical and psychological condition.
  • Esophageal Cancer and Its Treatment The paper researches the causes of esophageal cancer, its various symptoms, diagnostic, treatment and possible ends.
  • Approach to Cancer Care: Diagnosing and Treatment This paper will discuss the process of diagnosing and staging cancer, the complications that are common among patients, and the various treatment remedies available.
  • Prostate Cancer Among Blacks in Maryland: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis In the context of the black community in Maryland, the cost-effectiveness analysis portrays the ability of the chosen intervention to minimize the consequences of prostate cancer.
  • The Relationship Between Breast Cancer and Genes Cancer, in general, is a disease caused by genes that have mutated or adapted in a different way than was intended.
  • Does Marijuana Use and Misuse Cause Cancer? The purpose of this paper is to review two studies that have attempted to define the possible link between marijuana use/misuse and lung cancer.
  • Colorectal Cancer Intervention Model The unique skills needed are for successful colorectal cancer intervention includes knowledge of the behavioral challenges, interventions strategies, and health policies.
  • How Cancer Affects the Skin? Melanoma represents a type of cancer that affects the melanocytes based in the epidermis section of the skin, and it presents itself as patches of lesions on the skin.
  • Functional Characterization of MicroRNAs in Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is the name given to cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a part of the man’s reproductive system and is as big as a walnut.
  • A Perfusion Based 3D Cancer Model for Micro Tumor Formation In vitro perfused 3D cancer model, developed in this thesis, proved valuable for cancer cell culture and related anti-cancer drug tests.
  • Breast Cancer Development and Progression: Understanding Epigenetic Mechanisms The development and progression of breast cancer have been attributed to a series of cellular and molecular events, most of which are not well understood.
  • Cervical Cancer: Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice This essay seeks to discuss the annual cervical cancer screening practice to identify the EBP that can be used to replace it.
  • Impact of Alcohol Abuse on Breast Cancer Risk in Women This paper will examine the effects of alcohol abuse on the development of breast cancer in women to uncover its devastating consequences.
  • Cancer Pain Experiences in Caucasians vs. Minorities Race, age, genetics, cancer type, culture, and psychosocial context have all been shown to impact the manner in which cancer patients experience pain during their illness.
  • Cancer Treatment Practice Data Research Evidence-based practice in the nursing profession is fundamental towards effective delivery of care services to patients.
  • Effects of Nutrition on Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Control The high prevalence rate of cancer and heart disease has necessitated the need to underline not only the use of drugs but also the role of nutrition in eradicating cancer.
  • Virtual Colonoscopy to Screen for Colon Cancer The aim of this paper is to estimate the technology of virtual colonoscopy from the perspective of several factors, for filling the mentioned gap with the proper amount of arguments.
  • African American Women and Cancer The existing disparities regarding healthcare services provision in the United States is a critical issue related to such phenomena as racial and gender discrimination.
  • Lung Cancer: Causes and Treatment In the current paper, the crucial peculiarities of lung cancer, as well as the reasons that cause it, will be discussed.
  • Grant Proposal: Cancel Cancer To ensure that patients diagnosed with cancer can effectively reduce their stress and anxiety levels, a grant is needed to use the program of emotional relief.
  • Socioeconomic Factors of Oral Cancer The significant probability of oral cancer being incident in unemployed people was high since the OR (odds ratio) is 2.27.
  • Summaries of Three Articles About Lung Cancer One of the most straightforward and efficient ways to understand the pathogenesis of lung cancer is researching the molecular mechanisms that slowly initiate it.
  • Cervical Cancer: Symptoms and Treatment Cervical cancer is a condition that affects the cells close to the vagina that can be located in the lower section of the uterus, which is called the cervix.
  • Prophylaxis Breast Cancer This paper examines the majority of the parts in detail and considers every risk linked to the development of this dangerous disease.
  • Expanded Treatment Options in the Adjuvant Therapy of Colon Cancer Nurses can make a difference in improving survival rates for stage III and IV patients by remaining up to date about treatment options offered by new adjuvant agents.
  • Pancreatic Cancer: Diagnostics and Treatment The article analyses the most recent techniques in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer malignancy with a very poor prognosis.
  • Nutrition Research With Reference to Colorectal Cancer The present paper is concerned with evaluating the validity and reliability of nutrition research with reference to colorectal cancer.
  • Breast Cancer: Analysis and Data Collection The study to determine the quality of health was a qualitative research study because it showed a significant improved in the quality of life for the breast cancer victims.
  • Human Patient Simulation for Skin Cancer Prevention Kuhrik et al. conclude that human patient simulation (HPS) can benefit future healthcare providers and promote early prevention and detection.
  • Type C Personality as a Risk Factor for Cancer The paper is on the scientific relationship between personality C and the aspects of gene and hormonal activity that leads to the build-up of cancer cells.
  • The Disease of Breast Cancer: Definition and Treatment Breast cancer is a serious disease during which the breast cells experience abnormal growth. Females usually have a higher risk of developing the disease.
  • Cancer and Humor in Children: Approach to Research The paper has discussed the factors that a researcher must consider when planning to investigate the relationship between the sense of humor and hospitalized childhood cancer stressors.
  • Synthetic Lethality Approach as Used in Cancer Treatment The essay aims to demonstrate that Synthetic Lethality (SL) is an effective therapy that triggers two mutations in cancer cells that lead to cell death in the result.
  • Virtual Colonoscopy – Colon Cancer Screening Virtual Colonoscopy is constantly becoming more and more popular, in comparison with the traditional approach and conventional colonoscopy in particular.
  • Genetic Mechanism of Colorectal Cancer Colorectal Cancer (CRC) occurrence is connected to environmental factors, hereditary factors, and individual ones.
  • Pancreatic Cancer: Symptoms and Treatment Treatment is complicated by the fact that pancreatic cancer often does not cause any symptoms until it reaches a large size or does not spread to other tissues.
  • Care of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphoedema The lymphoedema’s clinical manifestations include swelling of the upper or lower extremities, violation of skin nutrition, and subcutaneous fat tissue.
  • Lung Cancer among Indigenous Australians A great number of severe diseases are widespread among the Indigenous Australian community. Cancer, especially lung cancer, is one of the most frequent cases.
  • Spread of Respiratory Cancer and Ethnicity of the Patient Based on the descriptive statistics, it is possible to study how the spread of respiratory cancer and the ethnicity of the patient are related.
  • The Use of Nanotechnology: Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment This article provides an overview of research and presentations on the use of nanotechnology for cancer treatment.
  • Cancer: Definition, Epidemiology, and Pain Management Cancer is estimated to reveal itself in as many as 100 types. Statistically, in 2008 the mortality rate from cancer was at the level of 62%.
  • Cervical Cancer: Case Study The paper reviews the cervical cancer key determinants, factors to ensure access to prevention technologies, and the trials that the Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention faces.
  • A Family Experience of a Child Being Diagnosed With Cancer Family members of a child being diagnosed with cancer have to go through a long and complicated road that regrettably, not always leads to success.
  • Women’s Disease: Breast Cancer and Its Consequence Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types worldwide amounting to 25-30% of all cancer cases detected yearly among women.
  • Listing Occupational Carcinogens and Cancer Prevention Occupational carcinogens make up bulk of the known human carcinogens. In the quest to define occupational carcinogens the number of staff exposed is of paramount importance.
  • Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines: Lung Cancer The evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) target early detection of lung cancer in patients based on screening tools and techniques suggested by the recent literature.
  • Cultural Sensitivity in Medicine and Cancer Treatment Any medical practitioner should understand the cultural aspects of a community for him to be able to come up with a lasting solution for cancer treatment.
  • Racism in Breast Cancer Treatment Cancer treatment is the least studied field that arises numerous ambiguities and requires a more sophisticated approach in studying.
  • Cancer Interference With Dna Replication Reports indicate that a greater percentage of human cancers originate from chemical substances as well as environmental substances.
  • Skin Cancer, Its Causes and Preventive Measures Skin cancer is one of the most common of all cancers, therefore, society needs to know the risks involved and must be better educated when it comes to preventative measures.
  • Understanding the Skin Cancer Causes and Protecting the Skin Exposure to too much sun can lead to skin cancer. If we do not change our habits majority of us will one time get skin cancer during our lifetime and many people will die from it.
  • Cancer: Symptoms and Consequences The research of the symptoms of cancer and its consequences to evaluate the seriousness of the problem in the USA but and the whole world.
  • Cancer and Contemporary Therapeutic Approaches Cancer is a hazardous disease due to its potential lethality. This essay describes the basic traits of cancer and contemporary therapeutic approaches to the condition.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Handling a Request for No Further Cancer Treatment Modern technologies can prolong a person’s life and interrupt it, and this is a person’s choice of which decision to make.
  • Lung Cancer Early Screening in African Americans
  • “Preferences for Photographic Art Among Hospitalized Patients With Cancer” the Article by Hanson et al.
  • “Preferences for Photographic Art Among Hospitalized Patients With Cancer” the Article by Grossman, A., Schroeter, K., Hanson, A. and Hanson, H.
  • Computed Tomography and Related Cancer Risks
  • Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention
  • Miami Breast Cancer Conference: Scholarly Activity
  • Databases in Early Lung Cancer Screening
  • Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Screening in Low-Income African Americans in Tennessee
  • The Approach to the Care of Cancer
  • Cancer: Approach to Care
  • “A Culturally Tailored Internet Cancer Support Group for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors”: Article Analysis
  • Cancer Pain Management and Education Programs
  • Depression in Female Cancer Patients and Survivors
  • Cervical Cancer Intervention in Clinical Practice
  • Skin Cancer in Latin American Population
  • Breast Cancer and Stress Heightening
  • Colorectal Cancer: Factors and Prevention
  • Prevention of Breast Cancer
  • Pain Management Issues in Cancer Patients
  • Reactive Oxygen Species and Cancer Cells Relationship
  • Anthem Blue Cross: Breast Cancer Screenings
  • Cancer Care, Diagnostics and Complications
  • Women’s Healthcare: Breast Cancer Prevention & Treatment
  • Vomiting and Nausea in Patients with Gastric Cancer
  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer
  • Breast Cancer Inheritance Biophysical Factors
  • Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Gastric Cancer Treatment: Research Instrument
  • Cancer Stages, Treatment and Side Effects
  • Anxiety and Depression Among Females with Cancer
  • Breast Cancer Screening Promotion
  • Cancer Risk Factors: Biology Concepts
  • Bladder Cancer, Its Mortality Trends and Projection
  • Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy and Cancer Treatment
  • Mammary Cancer: Health Screening Initiative
  • Mammography Screening and Breast Cancer Mortality
  • Skin Cancer: Examination and Prevention
  • Cancer Burden and Prevention Strategies
  • Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Cancer Patients
  • Cervical Cancer Prevention Among British Women
  • Breast Cancer Studies: Evaluation and Analysis of Scientific Papers
  • Value Care of Cancer
  • Community Cancer Screening and Detection Project
  • Cancer Care Approaches: Diagnosis, Side Effects, and Treatment
  • Music Therapy Effects for Breast Cancer Patients
  • Gastric Cancer Treatment: Data Collection
  • Cancer: Steps of the Implementation Plan
  • Cervical Cancer Screening Methodology
  • Endometrial Cancer Symptoms in Women After 35
  • Birth Control Pills and Cervical Cancer Development
  • Lung Cancer, Its Etiology Pathophysiology
  • Who Work with Cancer Patients?
  • Cancer Diagnostics, Staging and Complications
  • Breast Cancer: Disease Screening and Diagnosis
  • Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy in Cancer Patients
  • Prostate Cancer: African American Cancer Initiative
  • Possible Trends in the Cause of Cancer
  • Cancer Diagnosis, Complications and Treatment
  • Inner Strength in Women Survivors of Cancer
  • From Breast Cancer to Zika Virus – Nursing Issues
  • Postmenopausal Women with Breast Cancer
  • Tanning Booths and Skin Cancer Relationship – Medicine
  • A Research of Breast Cancer Survival
  • Can Aspirin Help Reduce the Risk of Lung Cancer?
  • What Are the Challenges for Relative Effectiveness Assessment and Early Access of Cancer Immunotherapies in Europe?
  • Does Cellular Phone Use Contribute to Cancer Formation?
  • Has Medical Innovation Reduced Cancer Mortality?
  • Can Diet and Exercise Help Prevent Cancer?
  • Does Detecting Breast Cancer with MRIs Increase the Rate of Mastectomies?
  • How Are Cancer Cells Structurally Different From Normal?
  • Can Elderly Patients With Pancreatic Cancer Gain Survival Advantages Through More Radical Surgeries?
  • How Does Cancer Affect Individuals From All Backgrounds?
  • Can Immunogenic Chemotherapies Relieve Cancer Cell Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors?
  • Does Diet Really Help Prevent Colon Cancer?
  • Why Do African American Women Contract Breast or Cervical Cancer More Than Any Other Ethnic Group?
  • How Does Cancer Form and Spread in the Human Body?
  • Can Korean Red Ginseng Increase the Life Span of Cancer Patients?
  • Does Natural Killer Cell Deficiency Increase the Risk of Cancer?
  • Why Do Women Generally Get Breast Cancer Rather Than Other Cancers?
  • Should the Cervical Cancer Vaccine for Girls Be Compulsory?
  • Can Religion Help the Healing Process of Cancer?
  • Does Green Tea Offer the Prescription for Beating Cancer?
  • How Can Nanomedicine Help Cure Cancer?
  • What Are the Symptoms and Treatments for Breast Cancer?
  • Does Medicare Coverage Improve Cancer Detection and Mortality Outcomes?
  • Are Pet Owners Really at Greater Risk of Cancer?
  • How Can People Protect Themselves From Cancer?
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Recent developments in cancer research: Expectations for a new remedy

1 Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka Japan

Qingjiang Hu

Yuta kasagi, masaki mori.

Cancer research has made remarkable progress and new discoveries are beginning to be made. For example, the discovery of immune checkpoint inhibition mechanisms in cancer cells has led to the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors that have benefited many cancer patients. In this review, we will introduce and describe the latest novel areas of cancer research: exosomes, microbiome, immunotherapy. and organoids. Exosomes research will lead to further understanding of the mechanisms governing cancer proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, as well as the development of cancer detection and therapeutic methods. Microbiome are important in understanding the disease. Immunotherapy is the fourth treatment in cancer therapy. Organoid biology will further develop with a goal of translating the research into personalized therapy. These research areas may result in the creation of new cancer treatments in the future.

Cancer research has made remarkable progress and new discoveries are beginning to be made. In this review, we will introduce and describe the latest novel areas of cancer research: exosomes, microbiomes, immunotherapy, and organoids.

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1. INTRODUCTION

The cancer research field has developed significantly through use of new equipment and technology. One example of new technology is Next‐Generation Sequencing (NGS). Also known as high‐throughput sequencing, NGS is the catch‐all term used to describe a number of different modern nucleic acid sequencing technologies. These methods allow for much quicker and cheaper sequencing of DNA and RNA compared with the previously used Sanger sequencing, and as such have revolutionized the study of genomics and molecular biology. NGS also allows for easier detection of mutations in cancer samples, leading to development of many new agents that can be used to treat patients. For example, if the RAS gene status is detected as wild type in a colorectal cancer patient, then an anti‐EGFR antibody, such as cetuximab or panitumumab, can be used for treatment.

A liquid biopsy, also known as fluid biopsy or fluid phase biopsy, is the sampling and analysis of non‐solid biological tissue, primarily blood. 1 It is being used as a novel way to detect cancer. Like a traditional biopsy, this type of technique is mainly used as a diagnostic and monitoring tool for diseases, and also has the added benefit of being largely noninvasive. Therefore, liquid biopsies can be performed more frequently, allowing for better tracking of tumors and mutations over a duration of time. This technique may also be used to validate the effectiveness of a cancer treatment drug by taking multiple liquid biopsy samples in the span of a few weeks. It may also prove to be beneficial for monitoring relapse in patients after treatment.

Novel devices and drugs have also been developed and used for cancer treatment. For surgery procedures, robotic‐assisted laparoscopic surgery has evolved and made it possible to visualize the fine movement of the forceps in three dimensions. This method is now used in esophageal, gastric, and rectal cancer surgeries in Japan. 2 , 3 , 4

Recently, immunotherapy became an additional method for treating cancer patients. The discovery of the immune checkpoint by Dr Honjo led to the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors. 5 Despite these developments, gastrointestinal cancers are still a major problem in need of new treatment methods. In this review, we introduce and describe four new areas of cancer research that may contribute to cancer treatment in the future: exosomes, microbiome, immunotherapy, and organoids.

2. AN APPLICATION OF EXOSOME RESEARCH IN CANCER THERAPY

An exosome is a small particle that is secreted by cells. Its size can range from 50 to 150 nm and has a surface consisting of proteins and lipids that originate from the cell membrane. Additionally, proteins and nucleic acids, such as DNA, microRNAs, and mRNAs, can be found inside the exosome as its “cargo.” 6 Recently, many researchers have discovered that exosomes are involved in the mechanisms of various diseases. As mentioned above, various functional compounds, such as microRNAs, mRNAs, and proteins, can be contained within exosomes. 7 , 8 Many cells use secretion of exosomes to communicate with one another, and these exosomes can even reach distant cells. Cancer cells can also secrete exosomes that contain molecules beneficial to cancer growth. For example, microRNAs found in cancer exosomes can modulate gene expression to induce angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment, which supports metastasis. 9 Exosomes released from cancer cells can also reportedly break the blood‐brain barrier, which makes it contribute to brain metastasis. 10 , 11 Cancer cells themselves are similarly affected by the exosomes secreted by the surrounding normal cells. 12 In one case, the exosomes secreted by bone marrow‐delivered mesenchymal stem cells can force cancer cells into a dormant state. 13 These dormant cancer cells become resistant to chemotherapy and are involved in long‐term disease recurrence. Thus, exosomes are deeply involved in cancer proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, as well as in the formation of the tumor microenvironment and pre‐metastatic niche. 13 Further research on cancer‐related exosomes is ongoing.

Knowledge of exosomes can be applied to cancer treatment. If the secretion of exosomes from cancer cells can be prevented, then signal transduction supporting the formation of the tumor microenvironment and pre‐metastatic niche can be blocked. Work focusing on the removal of cancer exosomes is now ongoing. 14

Exosomes can also be utilized for cancer diagnosis. Exosomes secreted by many cell types are found in various body fluids, such as blood and urine. Capturing and analyzing exosomes from cancer cells can be used to detect the presence of disease. 15 Obtaining blood or urine from patients is not very invasive or painful. Since many molecules, such as various proteins, DNA, and microRNAs, can be found in exosomes from normal cells, it is important to distinguish them from cancer‐related ones. If exosomes are to be used for cancer diagnosis, then specific biomarkers need to be discovered. Additionally, the development of a method to detect these exosomes must be done. Currently, exosome detection methods for exosomes abundantly found in the serum of colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients, as well as exosomes found in the urine of bladder cancer patients, are being developed. 16 , 17 Thus, further understanding of the mechanisms governing cancer proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, as well as the development of cancer detection and therapeutic methods, is significantly affected by exosome research.

3. MICROBIOME IN CANCER RESEARCH

A large number of microorganisms inhabit the human body. These microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Among them, bacteria have the most important relationship with the human body. Bacteria can live anywhere within the human body, including the digestive tract, respiratory system, and oral cavity. 18 , 19 , 20 In particular, bacteria in the digestive tract are rich in type and number, 21 with possibly 1000 types and more than 100 trillion individual bacterial cells present. 22 , 23 The overall population of various bacteria found in the human intestine is referred to as the “intestinal flora.” Recently, the terms “microbiota” or “microbiome” have also been widely used.

Recent advancements with NGS have led to a much more precise understanding of the intestinal microbiome. 24 The bacteria in the human microbiome mainly belong to four phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteri. Of these, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes are the most dominant species. It is reported that microbiome vary depending on age and race. 25 , 26 Dysbiosis is a condition in which the diversity of the microbiome is reduced. Dysbiosis is reportedly involved in various diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, obesity, diabetes, and allergic diseases. 27 , 28 , 29 For example, bacteria such as Atopobium parvulum and Actinomyces odontolyticus increase in number during the early stages of colorectal cancer (adenomas or intramucosal cancers) and decrease in number during cancer progression. 30 This suggests that a specific microbiome is associated with early stages of colorectal cancer development, which may be useful knowledge for early cancer detection.

Various studies have also been conducted to elucidate the relationship between the microbiome and the human immune system. 31 The IgA antibody, which is one of the most important elements in the intestinal immune system, is believed to play a role in the elimination of pathogens and maintenance of the intestinal environment. The IgA antibody recognizes, eliminates, and neutralizes pathogenic bacteria and toxins. It also maintains a symbiotic relationship by recognizing and binding to the normal microbiome of the host. 32 Mice lacking a microbiome have reduced production of the IgA antibody. A microbiome is required for IgA antibody differentiation. Recent studies have identified W27IgA antibodies that have the ability to bind to various bacteria. 33 Oral administration of a W27IgA antibody to enteritis model mice suppressed enteritis by altering the microbiome. This W27IgA antibody can recognize a part of the amino acid sequence of serine hydroxymethyl transferase, which is a metabolic enzyme involved in bacterial growth. The W27IgA antibody can suppress the growth of E coli by binding to them. However, the W27IgA antibody does not bind to bacteria that suppress enteritis, such as bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria. 33 Thus, the microbiome is deeply involved in human intestinal immunity. Recently, it is having been established that the microbiome is not only involved in intestinal immunity, but also in the systemic immune system.

As the analysis of the microbiome progresses, the pathophysiology of various diseases, such as cancers, and its relationship with the regulatory function of the human immune system will be further elucidated. It has been demonstrated that F nucleatum plays a role in the development and progression of colon adenomas and colorectal cancer. It is also related to lymph node metastases and distant metastasis. 34 , 35 Also, microbiome is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. 36 Studying microbiome will give us some clue in the development and remedy for gastrointestinal cancers (Table  1 ).

Gastrointestinal cancer and their related microbiome

Gastrointestinal cancerRelated microbiome
Gastric cancer
Colorectal cancer
Hepato cellular carcinoma
Biliary tract cancer
Pancreatic cancer

4. THE RISE OF IMMUNOTHERAPY IN CANCER TREATMENT

For many years, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy were the main methods of cancer treatment. In addition to these therapies, immunotherapy has recently attracted great attention worldwide (Table  2 ). 37 , 38 Under normal circumstances, a cancer antigen will activate the patient's immune system to attack the cancer cells. However, sometimes the immune system does not recognize the cancer cells as non‐self, or it simply fails to attack them. This can result in the development and progression of cancer.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors

Immune checkpoint inhibitorTarget moleculeTarget cancer
IpilimumabCTLA‐4Malignant melanoma, Renal cell carcinoma, (combination with nivolumab) MSI‐H CRC
TremelimumabCTLA‐4(combination with Durvalumab) Non‐small cell lung cancer, Head and neck cancer
PembrolizumabPD‐1Malignant melanoma, Non‐small cell lung cancer, MSI‐H solid tumors
NivolumabPD‐1Malignant melanoma, Non‐small cell lung cancer, Head and neck cancer, Gastric cancer
SpartalizumabPD‐1BRAF mutated maligant melanoma
CemiplimabPD‐1Squamous cell skin cancer
AtezolizumabPD‐L1Breast cancer, Non‐small cell lung cancer, Small cell lung cancer
AvelumabPD‐L1Merkel cell cancer, Renal cell carcinoma
DurvalumabPD‐L1Non‐small cell lung cancer

Although therapies that activate the immune system against cancer cells have been studied for a long time, the use of the patient's own immune system for cancer treatment was not established. Recently, the effectiveness of both immune checkpoint inhibition therapy and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)‐T cell therapy has proved to be promising. 39 , 40 Immunotherapy has moved to the forefront of cancer treatment strategies.

There are two major reasons why proving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies was difficult for some time. First, cancer immunity is strongly suppressed. Signal transduction from immune checkpoint compounds, such as PD‐1 and CTLA4, strongly inhibits cytotoxic T cells (CTLs). 38 This checkpoint mechanism can prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells. The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has arisen from the discovery of this mechanism. Inhibition of immune checkpoint molecules with neutralizing antibodies can release the suppression of cancer‐specific CTLs, activate immunity, and promote cancer elimination. The effectiveness of immune checkpoint antibodies has been confirmed and clinically applied to many solid cancers such as melanoma, 41 lung cancer, 42 urothelial cancer, 43 gastric cancer, 44 and esophageal cancer. 45 In addition to PD‐1 and CTLA4, new immune checkpoint molecules, such as LAG3, TIGIT, and SIRPA, are also being actively studied. 46 , 47 , 48 Although this therapy is promising, the cancer cases who respond to these therapies are limited. This is because use of this therapy requires the presence of cancer‐specific CTLs in the patient's body. To maximize the therapeutic effect, it is desirable to select appropriate cases and develop useful biomarkers.

The second difficulty for immunotherapy is that T cells do not recognize specific cancer cell antigens and immune accelerators are too weak. One goal of CAR‐T cell therapy is to strengthen the immune accelerator by administering CTLs to the patient's body that recognize specific cancer cell‐specific antigens. A CAR is prepared by fusing a single chain Fv (scFv), derived from a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a specific antigen expressed by cancer cells, with CD3z and costimulatory molecules (CD28, 4‐1BB, and others). Next, the CAR is introduced to the T cells obtained from a cancer patient and CAR‐T cells are made. CAR‐T cells recognize the specific antigen of the cancer cells and are activated to damage these cells. CAR‐T cells recognize cancer‐specific antigens with high antibody specificity and attack the respective cancer cells with strong cytotoxic activity and high proliferative activity. CAR‐T therapy is effective in blood cancers such as B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and myeloma. 49 , 50 While CAR‐T cell therapy has a high therapeutic effect, a frequent and serious adverse event called cytokine release syndrome has been observed in some patients. 51 , 52 The development of a technique for suppressing the occurrence of cytokine release syndrome is anticipated. In addition, the development of CAR‐T cell therapies for solid tumors is ongoing.

Recently, there was new progress made in treating gastrointestinal cancer patients. For MSI‐H colorectal cancer, the combination therapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab was approved. From the nivolumab plus ipilimumab cohort of CheckMate‐142, progression‐free survival rates were 76% (9 months) and 71% (12 months); respective overall survival rates were 87% and 85% which were quite high. This new treatment will benefit MSI‐H colorectal cancer patients. 53

Thus, it is expected that further understanding of cancer immune mechanisms and the development of various immunotherapies will contribute to great progress in cancer treatment.

One problem for immunotherapy is that there is no certain predictive biomarker. It was thought that the expression of PD‐1 or PD‐L1 would predict the effect. However, this was not the case. To find a new biomarker, we assessed the cytolytic activity (CYT) score. The CYT score is a new index of cancer immunity calculated from the mRNA expression levels of GZMA and PRF1. We are now evaluating CYT score in gastric cancer patients (data not published). The development in the biomarker search will benefit many gastrointestinal cancer patients.

5. ADVANTAGES FOR USING ORGANOIDS IN CANCER RESEARCH

The three‐dimensional (3D) organoid system is a cell culture‐based, novel, and physiologically relevant biologic platform. 54 An organoid is a miniaturized and simplified version of an organ that is produced in vitro in 3D and shows realistic microanatomy. With only one to a few cells isolated from tissue or cultured cells as the starting material, organoids are grown and passaged in a basement membrane matrix, which contributes to their self‐renewal and differentiation capacities. 54 , 55 The technique used for growing organoids has rapidly improved since the early 2010s with the advent of the field of stem cell biology. The characteristics of stem, embryonic stem cells (ES cells), or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) that allow them to form an organoid in vitro are also found in multiple types of carcinoma tissues and cells. Therefore, cancer researchers have applied ES cells or iPS cells in their field. 56 , 57 , 58

Organoid formation generally requires culturing stem cells or their progenitor cells in 3D. 54 , 55 The morphological and functional characteristics of various types of carcinoma tissue have been recapitulated in organoids that were generated from single‐cell suspensions or cell aggregates. These suspensions or aggregates were isolated from murine and human tissues or cultured cells, as well as from cancer stem cells propagated in culture. The structures of the organoids show the potential of cancer stem cell self‐renewal, proliferation, and differentiation abilities, and also provide insights into the roles of molecular pathways and niche factors that are essential in cancer tissues. 56 , 57 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 The organoid system also has been utilized for studying multiple biological processes, including motility, stress response, cell‐cell communications, and cellular interactions that involve a variety of cell types such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and inflammatory cells. These interactions are mediated via cell surface molecules, extracellular matrix proteins, and receptors in the microenvironment under homeostatic and pathologic conditions.

Although the organoid system is a complex and not effortless procedure that requires specific media, supplements, and many tricky techniques, 58 , 63 application of this system has been extended to a variety of cell types from different carcinomas (colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, breast, ovary, and esophageal cancers). 56 , 57 , 59 , 60 , 61 An organoid is generally induced within a few days to weeks, and is faster and less costly than the murine xenograft assay. Furthermore, applying novel genetic manipulations (e.g. CRISPR‐Cas9) can be carried out in the organoid system. 64 , 65

Kasagi et al modified keratinocyte serum‐free medium to grow 3D organoids from endoscopic esophageal biopsies, immortalized human esophageal epithelial cells, and murine esophagi. Esophageal 3D organoids serve as a novel platform to investigate regulatory mechanisms in squamous epithelial homeostasis in the context of esophageal cancers. 64

We anticipate that many experimental results that utilize the organoid system will be published in the future.

The 3D organoid system has emerged in the past several years as a robust tool in basic research with the potential to be used for personalized medicine. 66 By passaging dissociated primary structures to generate secondary 3D organoids, this system can be performed using live tissue pieces obtained from biopsies, operative‐resected specimens, or even frozen tissues. This method has the potential to transform personalized therapy. For example, in the case of cancer recurrence, an effective chemotherapy can be selected by testing the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of cancer‐derived organoids from an individual patient's tissue stocks. In many cases, a patient's organoid accumulation is helpful for testing the sensitivity of novel therapeutic agents for treating carcinoma. 66 Hence, it appears that organoid biology will further develop with a goal of translating the research into personalized therapy.

6. SUMMARY AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

This review describes four new cancer‐related studies: exosomes, microbiome, immunotherapy, and organoids (Figure  1 ).

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Object name is AGS3-5-419-g002.jpg

The summary of the four cancer research areas. In this figure the summary of the four cancer research areas is shown: exosome, microbiome, immunotherapy, and organoid research

Since exosomes are released in blood or urine, if the capturing system is established, it will be a less invasive test to diagnose cancer. In the present, the presence of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is one of the tools to detect the minimal residual disease. However, since ctDNA is only DNA, it is difficult to spread to cancer research. In that respect, as exosomes include not only DNA but also other nucleic acids and proteins, this will be a new tool for cancer research such as the diagnosis of early cancer.

Microbiome may lead to improved cancer diagnosis and treatment. Detecting a specific microbiome in a gastrointestinal tract may predict a specific cancer. And changing microbiome in some way may result in preventing cancer development.

Organoids may help address the problem of drug resistance, and also lead to the development of personalized therapy. However, producing organoids takes time and testing the drug resistance may take more time. If we could overcome these problems, the research into organoids can contribute to overcoming cancer.

As shown in Table  3 , many new studies and findings are reported into this field of research. These four novel cancer research areas will make many contributions to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Recent studies on exosome, microbiome, immunotherapy, and organoids

ResearchAuthorRecent studies in gastrointestinal cancersJournal
ExosomeLiu et alSerum exosomal miR‐766‐3p could serve as a prognostic marker for the assessment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. . 111(10):3881‐92, 2020
Lin et alSalivary exosomal GOLM1‐NAA35 chimeric RNA (seG‐NchiRNA) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma constitutes an effective candidate noninvasive biomarker for the convenient, reliable assessment of therapeutic response, recurrence, and early detection. . 25(10):3035‐45, 2019
Liu et alMiR‐128‐3p delivery via exosomes may be a promising diagnostic and prognostic marker for oxaliplatin‐based chemotherapy for colorectal cancer . 18(1):43, 2019
Lan et alMiRNA‐containing exosomes derived from M2 macrophages regulate migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells. . 79(1):146‐58, 2019
Bernard V et alLongitudinal monitoring using liquid biopsy samples through exosomal DNA and ctDNA provides both predictive and prognostic information relevant to therapeutic stratification in pancreatic cancer. . 156(1):108‐18, 2019
MicrobiomeRoberti et alThe ileal microbiota dictates tolerogenic versus immunogenic cell death of ileal intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and the accumulation of TFH cells in patients with CC . 26(6):919‐31, 2020
Mage et alThis study identifies a previously unknown microbial metabolite immune pathway activated by immunotherapy that may be exploited to develop microbial‐based adjuvant therapies. . 369(6510):1481‐9, 2020
Manzano et alThis study describes a distinct mutational signature in colorectal cancer and implies that the underlying mutational process results directly from past exposure to bacteria carrying the colibactin‐producing pks pathogenicity island. . 580(7802):269‐73, 2020
Gu et alCEACAM proteins disrupt TGFB signaling, which alters the composition of the intestinal microbiome to promote colorectal carcinogenesis. . 158(1):238‐52, 2020
Song et alThe features of the intestinal microbiome might be used for CRC screening and modified for chemoprevention and treatment. . 158(2):322‐40, 2020
ImmunotherapyLe DT et alPembrolizumab is effective with a manageable safety profile in patients with MSI‐H/dMMR colorectal cancer (KEYNOTE‐164). . 38(1):11‐9, 2020
Kojima et alPembrolizumab prolonged OS vs chemotherapy as second‐line therapy for advanced esophageal cancer in patients with PD‐L1 CPS ≥ 10, with fewer treatment‐related adverse events (KEYNOTE‐181). . 38(35):4138‐48, 2020
Hack et alIMbrave 050: a Phase III trial of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in high‐risk hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection or ablation . 16(15):975‐89, 2020
Kato et alNivolumab was associated with a significant improvement in overall survival and a favorable safety profile compared with chemotherapy in previously treated patients with advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and might represent a new standard second‐line treatment option for these patients (ATTRACTION‐3). . 20:1506‐17, 2019
Overman et alNivolumab plus ipilimumab demonstrated high response rates, encouraging progression‐free survival and OS at 12 mo, manageable safety, and meaningful improvements in patients with MSI‐H/dMMR colorectal cancer (CheckMate‐142) . 36(8):773‐9, 2018
Kang et alIn ATTRACTION‐2 study, the survival benefits indicate that nivolumab might be a new treatment option for heavily pretreated patients with advanced gastric or gastro‐oesophageal junction cancer. . 390(10111):2461‐71, 2017
OrganoidsYao et alThe patient‐derived organoids predict locally advanced rectal cancer patient responses in the clinic and may represent a companion diagnostic tool in rectal cancer treatment. . 26(1):17‐26, 2020
Kong et alThis study presents a method to predict cancer patient drug responses using pharmacogenomic data derived from organoid models by combining the application of gene modules and network‐based approaches. . 11(1):5485, 2020
Bruun et alVariation in drug sensitivities was reflected at the transcriptomic level in the patient‐derived organoids from multiple colorectal cancer liver metastases, suggesting potential to develop gene expression‐based predictive signatures to guide experimental therapies. . 26(15):4107‐19, 2020
Ganesh et alThe biology and drug sensitivity of RC clinical isolates can be efficiently interrogated using an organoid‐based, ex vivo platform coupled with in vivo endoluminal propagation in animals. . 25(10):1607‐14, 2019

Conflict of Interest: All the authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Dr Hirofumi Hasuda and Dr Naomichi Koga for their help in preparing this manuscript. We also thank J. Iacona, PhD, from Edanz Group for editing a draft of this manuscript.

Ando K, Hu Q, Kasagi Y, Oki E, Mori M. Recent developments in cancer research: Expectations for a new remedy . Ann Gastroenterol Surg . 2021; 5 :419–426. 10.1002/ags3.12440 [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]

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Multidisciplinary Management of Oral Cancer: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation

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The management of oral cancer is a complex task, often requiring a multidisciplinary effort. To date, advancements in early diagnosis, tailored therapies, and post-treatment care have been achieved through collaboration between surgeons, radiotherapists, oncologists, pathologists, and other specialists. Dentists also play a pivotal role in early diagnosis and post-operative rehabilitation, while speech pathologists are often vital for improving quality of life after treatment; nutrition specialists are fundamental before, during, and after treatment. New frontiers of research in this field have developed new diagnostic and prognostic tools, less invasive ablative and reconstructive surgery, and better tailored systemic treatments. Nonetheless, significant gaps remain in uniform diagnostic standards, optimal treatment modalities tailored to individual patient profiles, and effective rehabilitation measures that optimize long-term quality of life. The scope of this Research Topic is to publish high quality papers, either clinical research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses covering, but will not be limited to, the following topics: 1. Diagnostic methods to detect or to better identify oral potentially malignant disorders at high risk of transformation into cancer, including molecular, genetic, and clinical analysis. 2. Optimal ways to diagnose and follow-up oral cavity cancer through radiology and the potential applications of radiomics. 3. Surgical aspects of oral cavity cancer management including novel ablative and reconstructive techniques. 4. The importance of novel prognostic tools such as lymph node yield and lymph node ratio, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, and tumor stromal ratio. 5. The role of systemic treatments in improving the survival in specific subsets of oral cancer patients. For example, the emerging role of immunotherapy in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting. 6. The importance of dental care, nutritional support, and speech rehabilitation in the perioperative setting for patients affected by oral cancer. 7. The management of treatment complications such as mucositis, xerostomia, or osteoradionecrosis. Any alternative submission proposals are more than welcome; authors are encouraged to submit a manuscript summary proposal via the homepage to check the scope of their potential contribution.

Keywords : oral cancer treatment multidisciplinary approach, comprehensive oral cancer management, oral cancer diagnosis techniques, reconstructive surgery for oral cancer, systemic therapies oral cancer, multidisciplinary oral cancer care team, post-operative rehabilitation, speech therapy, systemic treatments, mucositis, xerostomia, osteoradionecrosis, personalized medicine

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New research discovers a new combination of therapy for people with a type of leukemia, leading them to live longer

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By Kelley Luckstein

In a new multicenter international study led by the  Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center , researchers found that people with the B-cell precursor subtype of  acute lymphoblastic leukemia  (BCP-ALL), who also lacked a genetic abnormality known as the  Philadelphia chromosome  and were in remission with no trace of cancer, showed significantly higher survival rates when blinatumomab was added to their chemotherapy treatment. The randomized study results are published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"These results are encouraging and establish a new standard of treatment for people with BCP-ALL," says  Mark Litzow, M.D. , lead study author and hematologist at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. "The addition of blinatumomab to chemotherapy reduced the risk of leukemia recurrence and death by nearly 60%."

Blinatumomab is a type of immunotherapy administered intravenously and brings a normal immune cell called a T cell close to a leukemia cell so it can destroy it. The Food and Drug Administration approved blinatumomab for patients in remission who have traces of cancer, also known as measurable residual disease (MRD)-positive. In this study, blinatumomab was added to see if it could lessen the risk of the ALL coming back and relapsing in a person who had no detection of cancer, also known as MRD-negative, following initial chemotherapy.

The study enrolled 488 participants aged 30 to 70 years with BCP-ALL, and 224 of them were in remission and MRD-negative following the initial course of treatment with chemotherapy. The 224 participants were equally randomized into two arms; the first arm would receive blinatumomab with chemotherapy, and the second arm would receive the standard treatment of chemotherapy alone.

The results showed that 85% of participants treated with blinatumomab and chemotherapy were alive at three years, compared to 68% of those who received chemotherapy alone, which is the standard treatment.

"We plan to build on this study to reduce the amount of chemotherapy people need to receive, ultimately leading to fewer side effects from the treatment and improving overall survival rates," Dr. Litzow says.

This study was conducted by the  ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group  and funded in part by the  National Cancer Institute  of the  National Institutes of Health . See the full paper for the complete list of funding and authors.

Dr. Litzow has received research funding from Amgen and served on a speaker's bureau for Amgen related to this study.

A version of this article was originally published on the Mayo Clinic News Network .

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Study reveals the benefits and downside of fasting

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Low-calorie diets and intermittent fasting have been shown to have numerous health benefits: They can delay the onset of some age-related diseases and lengthen lifespan, not only in humans but many other organisms.

Many complex mechanisms underlie this phenomenon. Previous work from MIT has shown that one way fasting exerts its beneficial effects is by boosting the regenerative abilities of intestinal stem cells, which helps the intestine recover from injuries or inflammation.

In a study of mice, MIT researchers have now identified the pathway that enables this enhanced regeneration, which is activated once the mice begin “refeeding” after the fast. They also found a downside to this regeneration: When cancerous mutations occurred during the regenerative period, the mice were more likely to develop early-stage intestinal tumors.

“Having more stem cell activity is good for regeneration, but too much of a good thing over time can have less favorable consequences,” says Omer Yilmaz, an MIT associate professor of biology, a member of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and the senior author of the new study.

Yilmaz adds that further studies are needed before forming any conclusion as to whether fasting has a similar effect in humans.

“We still have a lot to learn, but it is interesting that being in either the state of fasting or refeeding when exposure to mutagen occurs can have a profound impact on the likelihood of developing a cancer in these well-defined mouse models,” he says.

MIT postdocs Shinya Imada and Saleh Khawaled are the lead authors of the paper, which appears today in Nature .

Driving regeneration

For several years, Yilmaz’s lab has been investigating how fasting and low-calorie diets affect intestinal health. In a 2018 study , his team reported that during a fast, intestinal stem cells begin to use lipids as an energy source, instead of carbohydrates. They also showed that fasting led to a significant boost in stem cells’ regenerative ability.

However, unanswered questions remained: How does fasting trigger this boost in regenerative ability, and when does the regeneration begin?

“Since that paper, we’ve really been focused on understanding what is it about fasting that drives regeneration,” Yilmaz says. “Is it fasting itself that’s driving regeneration, or eating after the fast?”

In their new study, the researchers found that stem cell regeneration is suppressed during fasting but then surges during the refeeding period. The researchers followed three groups of mice — one that fasted for 24 hours, another one that fasted for 24 hours and then was allowed to eat whatever they wanted during a 24-hour refeeding period, and a control group that ate whatever they wanted throughout the experiment.

The researchers analyzed intestinal stem cells’ ability to proliferate at different time points and found that the stem cells showed the highest levels of proliferation at the end of the 24-hour refeeding period. These cells were also more proliferative than intestinal stem cells from mice that had not fasted at all.

“We think that fasting and refeeding represent two distinct states,” Imada says. “In the fasted state, the ability of cells to use lipids and fatty acids as an energy source enables them to survive when nutrients are low. And then it’s the postfast refeeding state that really drives the regeneration. When nutrients become available, these stem cells and progenitor cells activate programs that enable them to build cellular mass and repopulate the intestinal lining.”

Further studies revealed that these cells activate a cellular signaling pathway known as mTOR, which is involved in cell growth and metabolism. One of mTOR’s roles is to regulate the translation of messenger RNA into protein, so when it’s activated, cells produce more protein. This protein synthesis is essential for stem cells to proliferate.

The researchers showed that mTOR activation in these stem cells also led to production of large quantities of polyamines — small molecules that help cells to grow and divide.

“In the refed state, you’ve got more proliferation, and you need to build cellular mass. That requires more protein, to build new cells, and those stem cells go on to build more differentiated cells or specialized intestinal cell types that line the intestine,” Khawaled says.

Too much of a good thing

The researchers also found that when stem cells are in this highly regenerative state, they are more prone to become cancerous. Intestinal stem cells are among the most actively dividing cells in the body, as they help the lining of the intestine completely turn over every five to 10 days. Because they divide so frequently, these stem cells are the most common source of precancerous cells in the intestine.

In this study, the researchers discovered that if they turned on a cancer-causing gene in the mice during the refeeding stage, they were much more likely to develop precancerous polyps than if the gene was turned on during the fasting state. Cancer-linked mutations that occurred during the refeeding state were also much more likely to produce polyps than mutations that occurred in mice that did not undergo the cycle of fasting and refeeding.

“I want to emphasize that this was all done in mice, using very well-defined cancer mutations. In humans it’s going to be a much more complex state,” Yilmaz says. “But it does lead us to the following notion: Fasting is very healthy, but if you’re unlucky and you’re refeeding after a fasting, and you get exposed to a mutagen, like a charred steak or something, you might actually be increasing your chances of developing a lesion that can go on to give rise to cancer.”

Yilmaz also noted that the regenerative benefits of fasting could be significant for people who undergo radiation treatment, which can damage the intestinal lining, or other types of intestinal injury. His lab is now studying whether polyamine supplements could help to stimulate this kind of regeneration, without the need to fast.

“This fascinating study provides insights into the complex interplay between food consumption, stem cell biology, and cancer risk,” says Ophir Klein, a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who was not involved in the study. “Their work lays a foundation for testing polyamines as compounds that may augment intestinal repair after injuries, and it suggests that careful consideration is needed when planning diet-based strategies for regeneration to avoid increasing cancer risk.”

The research was funded, in part, by Pew-Stewart Scholars Program for Cancer Research award, the MIT Stem Cell Initiative, the Koch Institute Frontier Research Program via the Kathy and Curt Marble Cancer Research Fund, and the Bridge Project, a partnership between the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT and the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center.

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A new study led by researchers at MIT suggests that fasting and then refeeding stimulates cell regeneration in the intestines, reports Katharine Lang for Medical News Today . However, notes Lang, researchers also found that fasting “carries the risk of stimulating the formation of intestinal tumors.” 

MIT researchers have discovered how fasting impacts the regenerative abilities of intestinal stem cells, reports Ed Cara for Gizmodo . “The major finding of our current study is that refeeding after fasting is a distinct state from fasting itself,” explain Prof. Ömer Yilmaz and postdocs Shinya Imada and Saleh Khawaled. “Post-fasting refeeding augments the ability of intestinal stem cells to, for example, repair the intestine after injury.” 

Prof. Ömer Yilmaz and his colleagues have discovered the potential health benefits and consequences of fasting, reports Max Kozlov for Nature . “There is so much emphasis on fasting and how long to be fasting that we’ve kind of overlooked this whole other side of the equation: what is going on in the refed state,” says Yilmaz.

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Research Paper Topics

Research Paper Topics for 2024: Explore Ideas Across Various Fields

cancer topics for research papers

When you start writing a research paper, it’s like diving into a big pool of exploration and analysis. A good research paper goes beyond just gathering facts. It’s more about exploring a topic, asking the right questions, and coming up with thoughtful answers. Whether you're looking at historical events, scientific discoveries, or cultural trends, the trick is to find interesting research topics that catch your interest and keep you motivated throughout the process.

This article is here to help with that sometimes tricky job of picking a topic. We’ll cover a variety of interesting research topics from different areas, making it easier for you to find one that not only fits your assignment but also grabs your attention.

But let’s be honest, picking the right topic isn’t always easy. If you’re still unsure after reading this article, EssayService is a great place to turn for help, whether you need assistance choosing a topic or writing the entire paper.

How to Pick a Topic for a Research Paper

Choosing the right topic can make or break your research paper. Here's how to make it easier:

  • Start with your interests: Pick a few areas or subjects that genuinely interest you. Narrow it down to the one that excites you the most. If you’re interested, it’ll show in your writing.
  • Check for resources: Before committing, do a quick search to ensure there are enough references available. You’ll want a topic that’s well-discussed so you have plenty of material to work with.
  • Stick to guidelines: Make sure your topic fits within any guidelines your teacher has set. Whether it's avoiding certain subjects or meeting specific requirements, this step is crucial for getting your paper off to a good start.

If you’re looking for easy research paper topics, keep these tips in mind to ensure you choose one that’s both manageable and engaging.

What Are Good Research Topics?

Choosing a successful research topic isn’t just about what sounds interesting — it’s about finding a topic that will help you produce a strong, insightful paper. Good research topic ideas should tick a few key boxes to ensure they’re both impactful and manageable.

Feature Description
🔍 Specific and Focused Narrow down broad areas like “climate change” to something more specific, like “the impact of urban development on local microclimates.” This gives your research a clear direction.
✨ Unique Angle Instead of rehashing well-covered topics like “social media and mental health,” explore a niche, such as “the effects of social media detox on productivity in college students.”
🌍 Significant Impact Choose topics that matter, like “renewable energy adoption in developing countries,” which could contribute to important discussions in your field or society.
📚 Accessible Sources Make sure there’s enough material available by checking databases for studies on topics like “the history of vaccine development” to ensure you have the resources you need.
🔥 Current and Relevant Focus on emerging issues, such as “the role of AI in cybersecurity,” which are timely and likely to interest both readers and reviewers.

Best Research Paper Topics for 2024

In 2024, new challenges and innovations are shaping the world around us, making it an exciting time to dive into research. Here are 15 detailed and highly relevant topics that will keep your paper ahead of the curve:

  • The impact of remote work on urban development in major U.S. cities.
  • Ethical implications of AI-driven decision-making in healthcare.
  • The role of social media algorithms in shaping public opinion during elections.
  • Effects of climate change on global food security and crop yields.
  • The influence of blockchain technology on supply chain transparency.
  • Mental health outcomes related to long-term social media use among teenagers.
  • Renewable energy adoption in emerging economies and its impact on local communities.
  • The rise of electric vehicles and its effect on traditional automotive industries.
  • Privacy concerns surrounding the use of biometric data in consumer devices.
  • The evolution of cybersecurity threats in the age of quantum computing.
  • Gender disparities in STEM education and their long-term effects on the workforce.
  • The economic impact of climate migration on coastal regions.
  • Implications of CRISPR technology in human genetic modification.
  • The effectiveness of universal basic income trials in reducing poverty.
  • The role of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare in rural areas.

College Research Paper Topics

These topics explore some of the most relevant and intriguing issues facing college students today, offering plenty of angles to explore in your research:

  • How student loan debt shapes career paths and financial stability after graduation.
  • Comparing online learning to traditional classrooms: What works best for today’s college students?
  • Social media’s influence on mental health and academic success among college students.
  • Diversity and inclusion: How initiatives are changing campus life and student experiences.
  • University sustainability efforts: How climate change is driving new campus policies.
  • The rise of esports: Transforming college athletics and student engagement.
  • Campus housing: How living arrangements affect academic success and student retention.
  • Balancing part-time jobs with academics: The impact on college students’ grades and well-being.
  • Navigating controversial topics: The importance of academic freedom in college debates.
  • Digital vs. traditional libraries: How technology is reshaping student research habits.
  • Study abroad programs: Enhancing global awareness and boosting future career opportunities.
  • Evaluating campus mental health services: Are they meeting students’ needs?
  • Fraternities and sororities: Examining their influence on college culture and student life.
  • Free college tuition: Exploring the economic and social outcomes in different countries.
  • Standardized testing: How it’s affecting college admissions and the diversity of student bodies.

cancer topics for research papers

Research Paper Topics By Subject

Choosing a good research topic that aligns with your academic focus can make your work more relevant and engaging. Below, you’ll find topics organized by subject to help you get started.

Research Paper Topics on Health

Health is a dynamic field with ongoing developments and challenges, making it a rich area for research. These topics cover a range of health-related issues, from public health policies to advancements in medical technology:

  • How COVID-19 has changed the approach to mental health care.
  • Adoption rates of telemedicine among different age groups.
  • Antibiotic-resistant bacteria: Exploring new treatment options.
  • Barriers to healthcare access in low-income neighborhoods.
  • Ethical dilemmas in using genetic testing for personalized treatments.
  • Success rates of mental health programs in high schools.
  • Comparing dietary patterns in managing type 2 diabetes across cultures.
  • Teen vaping trends and their connection to lung health issues.
  • Strategies for supporting healthcare needs in rapidly aging populations.
  • Tracking climate-related health issues in coastal communities.
  • Innovations in vaccine development for emerging diseases.
  • Social isolation during pandemics and its link to anxiety disorders.
  • Recent changes in U.S. healthcare laws and their influence on patient choices.
  • Exploring how traditional beliefs shape approaches to medical treatment.
  • Evaluating progress in global vaccination campaigns against childhood diseases.

Research Paper Topics on Medicine

Medicine is a vast field with plenty of areas to explore. Here are some specific topics that focus on medical advancements, practices, and challenges:

  • New techniques in minimally invasive surgery for heart conditions.
  • Developments in gene therapy for treating inherited diseases.
  • Challenges in diagnosing and treating rare diseases.
  • The role of AI in improving diagnostic accuracy in radiology.
  • Progress in personalized cancer treatments based on genetic profiling.
  • The rise of antibiotic alternatives in treating infections.
  • Stem cell research advancements for spinal cord injuries.
  • Managing chronic pain: Exploring non-opioid treatment options.
  • Trends in telemedicine for rural healthcare delivery.
  • Breakthroughs in vaccine technology for emerging viruses.
  • Long-term outcomes of organ transplants in pediatric patients.
  • Advances in robotic surgery and their impact on patient recovery.
  • New approaches to treating drug-resistant tuberculosis.
  • Innovations in prenatal care and fetal surgery techniques.
  • The future of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

Research Paper Topics on Media

Explore the ever-changing world of media with these fresh and relevant topics. Each one dives into the trends and challenges shaping how we consume and create content today.

  • Analyze the impact of TikTok on modern marketing strategies.
  • Investigate the role of influencers in shaping public opinion during elections.
  • Explore the effects of streaming services on traditional cable TV viewership.
  • Examine how social media platforms handle misinformation and its consequences.
  • Study the rise of podcasts and their influence on news consumption.
  • Compare the portrayal of mental health in TV shows across different cultures.
  • Track the evolution of digital journalism and its impact on print media.
  • Look into the ethics of deepfake technology in video production.
  • Research the effects of binge-watching on viewer behavior and mental health.
  • Explore the relationship between video game streaming and the gaming industry.
  • Analyze the shift from traditional news outlets to social media for breaking news.
  • Investigate how algorithms curate personalized content and influence user behavior.
  • Study the changing landscape of advertising in the age of ad-blockers.
  • Examine the role of memes in political discourse and cultural commentary.
  • Explore the use of virtual reality in media and entertainment.

Research Paper Topics on Politics

Politics is a field that’s constantly evolving, with new issues and debates emerging all the time. Whether you're interested in global dynamics, domestic policies, or the role of technology in politics, there’s no shortage of interesting topics to explore:

  • How social media is influencing voter behavior in recent elections.
  • The rise and impact of grassroots movements on political change.
  • Fake news and its role in shaping public perception of political events.
  • The effects of immigration policies on relationships between countries.
  • Populism’s growth in global politics and what it means for the future.
  • How economic inequality contributes to political instability.
  • The power of political lobbying in creating and shaping laws.
  • Challenges faced by democracies under authoritarian regimes.
  • Youth activism and its growing influence in modern politics.
  • How climate change policies are impacting national security.
  • The role of technology in improving election security and voter turnout.
  • Government approval ratings and their connection to pandemic responses.
  • Influence of international organizations on a country’s domestic policies.
  • Shifts in global trade agreements and their effects on international relations.
  • The impact of gerrymandering on election results and fairness.

Research Paper Ideas on Technology

Technology is rapidly transforming our world, offering endless opportunities for research. Here are some intriguing ideas to explore:

  • The ethics of artificial intelligence in decision-making processes.
  • How blockchain technology is revolutionizing financial transactions.
  • The role of 5G networks in shaping the future of communication.
  • Cybersecurity challenges in the era of smart homes and IoT devices.
  • The environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining.
  • Virtual reality’s influence on education and training programs.
  • How autonomous vehicles are changing urban planning and infrastructure.
  • The potential of quantum computing in solving complex global problems.
  • Social media algorithms and their impact on public discourse.
  • The digital divide: Access to technology in rural versus urban areas.
  • How wearable tech is transforming personal health management.
  • The implications of deepfake technology in media and politics.
  • The future of remote work and its long-term effects on productivity.
  • Advancements in drone technology for disaster management and rescue operations.
  • The role of big data in personalizing online shopping experiences.

Research Topic Ideas on Culture

Whether you’re interested in examining specific cultural practices or looking at how modern trends reshape traditional customs, these research topics will provide you with a focused and detailed starting point:

  • Adoption of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies in contemporary urban settings.
  • Practices of food preservation among Inuit communities in the Arctic.
  • The revival of Celtic languages in Wales and Ireland through education programs.
  • Depiction of queer relationships in Netflix original series from 2015 to 2024.
  • Evolution of traditional African hairstyles in Black communities across the U.S.
  • Transformation of street art in Berlin post-German reunification.
  • Cultural significance of Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexican-American neighborhoods.
  • Popularity of Korean skincare routines among Western beauty bloggers.
  • Modern interpretations of Norse mythology in Scandinavian literature.
  • Changes in wedding rituals among Indian diaspora in the UK.
  • Resurgence of indigenous Australian painting techniques in contemporary art.
  • Representation of disability in children’s books published in the last decade.
  • Use of traditional Māori patterns in New Zealand’s fashion industry.
  • Changes in burial customs in urbanized areas of Southeast Asia.
  • Incorporation of First Nations symbols in Canadian public architecture.

Research Paper Topics on Math

If you're looking to explore the depth and applications of math, these research topics are both specific and engaging:

  • Applications of fractal geometry in modeling natural phenomena.
  • Mathematical approaches to solving complex optimization problems in logistics.
  • Development of new algorithms for large-scale data encryption.
  • Mathematical modeling of population dynamics in ecology.
  • The use of game theory in economic decision-making processes.
  • Exploring the mathematics behind machine learning algorithms.
  • Advancements in numerical methods for solving partial differential equations.
  • Topological data analysis and its applications in computational biology.
  • Mathematical analysis of voting systems and fairness.
  • The role of number theory in modern cryptography.
  • Predictive models for financial markets using stochastic calculus.
  • Mathematical foundations of quantum computing and quantum algorithms.
  • Applications of chaos theory in weather prediction.
  • Geometry of space-time in the context of general relativity.
  • Mathematical techniques for analyzing big data in social networks.

Research Paper Topics on Art

Art is full of fascinating details and stories waiting to be explored. If you’re into art research, here are some research topics that might catch your interest:

  • How Caravaggio used light and shadow in his religious paintings.
  • The way Cubism shaped Picasso’s "Les Demoiselles d’Avignon."
  • Gustav Klimt’s "The Kiss" and its ties to Viennese culture.
  • Hokusai’s woodblock techniques in "The Great Wave off Kanagawa."
  • Bauhaus principles that still influence graphic design today.
  • Emotions and color in Mark Rothko’s abstract paintings.
  • Leonora Carrington’s role in the Surrealist movement.
  • Gaudí’s architectural genius in designing La Sagrada Familia.
  • Industrial scenes captured in Charles Sheeler’s Precisionist art.
  • Jean-Michel Basquiat’s take on graffiti and cultural identity.
  • Frida Kahlo’s evolving self-portraits through her life.
  • Claude Monet’s unique use of light in his Impressionist works.
  • Diego Rivera’s murals as powerful political statements.
  • The simplicity and impact of Donald Judd’s minimalist sculptures.
  • How African art influenced Henri Matisse during his Fauvist period.

Research Topics on Sports

Sports offer a wide range of topics that are both intriguing and highly relevant. Here are some specific research ideas to consider if you're looking to explore the world of sports:

  • The biomechanics behind sprinting techniques in elite athletes.
  • The psychological effects of team sports on adolescent development.
  • Injury prevention strategies in professional football (soccer).
  • The impact of altitude training on endurance performance in marathon runners.
  • Gender equity in sports: The evolution of women’s participation in the Olympics.
  • The role of nutrition in recovery and performance for endurance athletes.
  • How advanced analytics are changing strategies in basketball.
  • The effects of early specialization in youth sports on long-term athletic development.
  • The influence of sports media coverage on public perceptions of athletes.
  • Technology in sports: The use of wearable devices to monitor athlete performance.
  • Doping scandals and their long-term impact on athletes' careers.
  • Mental health challenges faced by retired professional athletes.
  • The economics of hosting major sporting events like the World Cup or Olympics.
  • How climate change is affecting outdoor sports events and training schedules.
  • The evolution of sports science in enhancing athlete training programs.

In 2024, some of the most popular research topics include the impact of technology on sports, the psychological aspects of team dynamics, and the evolution of gender equity in athletics. 

If you’re still unsure about which topic to choose or need help with your essay, EssayService is a great option. Our research paper writing service can assist with everything from selecting the perfect topic to crafting a well-written paper, making the whole process a lot easier.

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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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Study: Dialyl-sulfide and trans-chalcone prevent breast cancer by targeting SULT1E1 and HIF1a-MMPs

by Impact Journals LLC

Dialyl-sulfide and trans-chalcone prevent breast cancer by targeting SULT1E1 and HIF1a-MMPs

A new research paper was published in Genes & Cancer on August 9, 2024, titled "Dialyl-sulfide with trans-chalcone prevent breast cancer prohibiting SULT1E1 malregulations and oxidant-stress induced HIF1a-MMPs induction."

In some breast cancers, altered estrogen-sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) and its inactivation by oxidative stress lead to modified E2 levels. Simultaneously, hypoxia-inducible tissue-damaging factors (HIF1α) are induced. The expression of these proteins/genes was verified in human breast cancer tissues, and combinations of SULT1E1-inducing drugs were tested for their potential protective effects.

In this study, the oxidative stress neutralizer chalcone (trans-1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones) and the SULT1E1 inducer pure diallyl sulfide (from garlic, Allium sativum) were tested in both in-vitro and in-vivo rat models to prevent cancer-related changes.

In their research paper , researchers Aarifa Nazmeen, Sayantani Maiti and Smarajit Maiti from Oriental Institute of Science and Technology, Haldia Institute of Health Sciences, and AgriCure Biotech Research Society in Midnapore, India, reveal for the first time that advanced cancer tissues with elevated SULT1E1 protein levels may be reactivated in a reducing environment initiated by chalcone but remain dormant in an oxidative environment.

The current study explores the redox-dependent regulation of SULT1E1 and the potential role of estradiol in breast cancer tissues of postmenopausal women. This process has been linked to the induction of HIF1α and the activation of MMP2/9.

"In an attempt towards the therapeutic approach , we have demonstrated that Dialyl-sulfide is a good inducer of SULT1E1 gene and protein which significantly decreased the HIF1α and MMPs," said the researchers.

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  • Published: 19 June 2024

Why do patients with cancer die?

  • Adrienne Boire   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9029-1248 1   na1 ,
  • Katy Burke 2   na1 ,
  • Thomas R. Cox   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9294-1745 3 , 4   na1 ,
  • Theresa Guise 5   na1 ,
  • Mariam Jamal-Hanjani 6 , 7 , 8   na1 ,
  • Tobias Janowitz   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7820-3727 9 , 10   na1 ,
  • Rosandra Kaplan 11   na1 ,
  • Rebecca Lee   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2540-2009 12 , 13   na1 ,
  • Charles Swanton   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4299-3018 7 , 8 , 14   na1 ,
  • Matthew G. Vander Heiden   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6702-4192 15 , 16   na1 &
  • Erik Sahai   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3932-5086 12   na1  

Nature Reviews Cancer volume  24 ,  pages 578–589 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Cancer is a major cause of global mortality, both in affluent countries and increasingly in developing nations. Many patients with cancer experience reduced life expectancy and have metastatic disease at the time of death. However, the more precise causes of mortality and patient deterioration before death remain poorly understood. This scarcity of information, particularly the lack of mechanistic insights, presents a challenge for the development of novel treatment strategies to improve the quality of, and potentially extend, life for patients with late-stage cancer. In addition, earlier deployment of existing strategies to prolong quality of life is highly desirable. In this Roadmap, we review the proximal causes of mortality in patients with cancer and discuss current knowledge about the interconnections between mechanisms that contribute to mortality, before finally proposing new and improved avenues for data collection, research and the development of treatment strategies that may improve quality of life for patients.

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Acknowledgements

A.B. is funded by National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute P30 CA008748 and R01-CA245499. K.B. is employed by the UK National Health Service. T.R.C. acknowledges funding support from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas (2000937), Project (1129766, 1140125), Development (2013881) and Fellowship (1158590) schemes, a Cancer Institute NSW Career Development Fellowship (CDF171105), Cancer Council NSW project support (RG19-09, RG23-11) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure (CCR17483294). T.G. is funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Grant 00011633. M.J.-H. has received funding from CRUK, NIH National Cancer Institute, IASLC International Lung Cancer Foundation, Lung Cancer Research Foundation, Rosetrees Trust, UKI NETs and NIHR. T.J. acknowledges funding from Cancer Grand Challenges (NIH: 1OT2CA278690-01; CRUK: CGCATF-2021/100019), the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (20-028-EDV), the Osprey Foundation, Fortune Footwear, Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory (CSHL) and developmental funds from CSHL Cancer Center Support Grant 5P30CA045508. R.K. is funded by the Intramural Research Program, the National Cancer Institute, NIH Clinical Center and the National Institutes of Health (NIH NCI ZIABC011332-06 and NIH NCI ZIABC011334-10). R.L. is supported by a Wellcome Early Career Investigator Award (225724/Z/22/Z). E.S. is supported by the Francis Crick Institute, which receives its core funding from Cancer Research UK (CC2040), the UK Medical Research Council (CC2040) and the Wellcome Trust (CC2040) and the European Research Council (ERC Advanced Grant CAN_ORGANISE, Grant agreement number 101019366). E.S. reports personal grants from Mark Foundation and the European Research Council. C.S. is a Royal Society Napier Research Professor (RSRP\R\210001). His work is supported by the Francis Crick Institute that receives its core funding from Cancer Research UK (CC2041), the UK Medical Research Council (CC2041) and the Wellcome Trust (CC2041) and the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (ERC Advanced Grant PROTEUS Grant agreement number 835297). M.G.V.H. reports support from the Lustgarten Foundation, the MIT Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, the Ludwig Center at MIT and NIH grants R35 CA242379 and P30 CA1405141.

Author information

These authors contributed equally: Adrienne Boire, Katy Burke, Thomas R. Cox, Theresa Guise, Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, Tobias Janowitz, Rosandra Kaplan, Rebecca Lee, Charles Swanton, Matthew G. Vander Heiden, Erik Sahai.

Authors and Affiliations

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

Adrienne Boire

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Palliative Care Team, London, UK

Cancer Ecosystems Program, The Garvan Institute of Medical Research and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia

Thomas R. Cox

School of Clinical Medicine, St Vincent’s Healthcare Clinical Campus, UNSW Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Theresa Guise

Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK

Mariam Jamal-Hanjani

Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK

Mariam Jamal-Hanjani & Charles Swanton

Cancer Research UK Lung Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK

Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbour, New York, NY, USA

Tobias Janowitz

Northwell Health Cancer Institute, New York, NY, USA

Paediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

Rosandra Kaplan

Tumour Cell Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK

Rebecca Lee & Erik Sahai

Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

Rebecca Lee

Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK

Charles Swanton

Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA

Matthew G. Vander Heiden

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA

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Contributions

All authors researched data for the article. A.B., K.B., T.R.C., T.G., T.J., C.S., M.G.V.H, R.K., M.J.-H. and E.S. contributed substantially to discussion of the content. T.C., R.L. and E.S. wrote the article. All authors reviewed and/or edited the manuscript before submission.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Thomas R. Cox or Erik Sahai .

Ethics declarations

Competing interests.

A.B. is an inventor on pending patents 63/449,817, 63/052,139 as well as awarded patents 11,305,014 and 10,413,522; all issued to the Sloan Kettering Institute. She has received personal fees from Apelis Pharmaceuticals and serves as an unpaid member of the Evren Technologies SAB. K.B., T.R.C., T.G., T.J. and R.K. declare no competing interests. M.J.-H. reports support from Achilles Therapeutics Scientific Advisory Board and Steering Committee, Pfizer, Astex Pharmaceuticals, Oslo Cancer Cluster and Bristol Myers Squibb outside the submitted work. R.L. reports personal fees from Pierre Fabre and has research funding from BMS, Astra Zeneca and Pierre Fabre outside the submitted work. E.S. reports grants from Novartis, Merck Sharp Dohme, AstraZeneca and personal fees from Phenomic outside the submitted work. C.S. reports grants and personal fees from Bristol Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Roche-Ventana, personal fees from Pfizer, grants from Ono Pharmaceutical, Personalis, grants, personal fees and other support from GRAIL, other support from AstraZeneca and GRAIL, personal fees and other support from Achilles Therapeutics, Bicycle Therapeutics, personal fees from Genentech, Medixci, China Innovation Centre of Roche (CiCoR) formerly Roche Innovation Centre, Metabomed, Relay Therapeutics, Saga Diagnostics, Sarah Canon Research Institute, Amgen, GlaxoSmithKline, Illumina, MSD, Novartis, other support from Apogen Biotechnologies and Epic Bioscience outside the submitted work; in addition, C.S. has a patent for PCT/US2017/028013 licensed to Natera Inc., UCL Business, a patent for PCT/EP2016/059401 licensed to Cancer Research Technology, a patent for PCT/EP2016/071471 issued to Cancer Research Technology, a patent for PCT/GB2018/051912 pending, a patent for PCT/GB2018/052004 issued to Francis Crick Institute, University College London, Cancer Research Technology Ltd, a patent for PCT/GB2020/050221 issued to Francis Crick Institute, University College London, a patent for PCT/EP2022/077987 pending to Cancer Research Technology, a patent for PCT/GB2017/053289 licensed, a patent for PCT/EP2022/077987 pending to Francis Crick Institute, a patent for PCT/EP2023/059039 pending to Francis Crick Institute and a patent for PCT/GB2018/051892 pending to Francis Crick Institute. C.S. is Co-chief Investigator of the NHS Galleri trial funded by GRAIL. He is Chief Investigator for the AstraZeneca MeRmaiD I and II clinical trials and Chair of the Steering Committee. C.S. is cofounder of Achilles Therapeutics and holds stock options. M.G.V.H. is a scientific adviser for Agios Pharmaceuticals, iTeos Therapeutics, Sage Therapeutics, Faeth Therapeutics, Droia Ventures and Auron Therapeutics on topics unrelated to the presented work.

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An autoimmune encephalitis characterized by complex neuropsychiatric features and the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptors in the central nervous system.

Partial collapse or incomplete inflation of the lung.

Pressure-induced movement of brain tissue.

An ageing-associated process in which haematopoiesis becomes dominated by one or a small number of genetically distinct stem or progenitor cells. Clonal haematopoiesis is linked to an increased risk of haematological malignancies.

Inability of the heart to pump blood properly.

Constriction of the arteries that supply blood to the heart.

(CRH). One of the major factors that drives the response of the body to stress.

(DIC). A rare but serious condition in which abnormal blood clotting occurs throughout the blood vessels of the body.

Inflammation of the brain.

An abnormal connection that forms between two body parts, such as an organ or blood vessel and another often unrelated structure in close proximity.

A rare disorder in which the immune system of a body attacks the nerves, which can lead to paralysis.

The stopping of flow of blood, typically associated with the bodies response to prevent and stop bleeding.

A build-up of fluid within the cavities of the brain.

Elevated calcium levels in the blood, often caused by overactive parathyroid glands. Hypercalcaemia is linked to kidney stones, weakened bones, altered digestion and potentially altered cardiac and brain function.

(HPD). Rapid tumour progression sometimes observed during immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

The condition that occurs when the level of sodium in the blood is low.

Harm, which is often unavoidable, caused by cancer treatments.

The marked suppression of polyclonal immunoglobulins in the body.

(LEMS). A neuromuscular junction disorder affecting communication between nerves and muscles, which manifests as a result of a paraneoplastic syndrome or a primary autoimmune disorder. Many cases are associated with small-cell lung cancer.

When cancer cells spread to the tissue layers covering the brain and spinal cord (the leptomeninges).

Also known as pulmonary oedema is a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs. This fluid collects in the alveoli compromising function and making it difficult to breathe.

The observation of displacement of brain tissue across the centre line of the brain, suggestive of uneven intracranial pressure.

Decreased blood flow to the myocardium, commonly called a heart attack.

Inflammation specifically of the middle layer of the heart wall.

A group of rare disorders that occur when the immune system reacts to changes in the body triggered by the presence of a neoplasm.

A dense network of nerves that transmit information from the brain (efferent neurons) to the periphery and conversely transmit information from the periphery to the brain (afferent neurons). A component of the peripheral nervous system is the autonomic nervous system.

A build-up of fluid between the tissues that line the lungs and the chest wall.

A condition characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass and function.

The lodging of a circulating blood clot within a vessel leading to obstruction. Thromboembolisms may occur in veins (venous thromboembolism) and arteries (arterial thromboembolism).

A key component of the pathway regulating blood clotting, specifically the receptor and cofactor for factor VII/VIIa.

A syndrome occurs when tumour cells release their contents into the bloodstream, either spontaneously or more typically, in response to therapeutic intervention.

Devices worn on the body, typically in the form of accessories or clothing, that incorporate advanced electronics and technology to monitor, track or enhance various aspects of human life. Examples include smartwatches and fitness trackers.

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Boire, A., Burke, K., Cox, T.R. et al. Why do patients with cancer die?. Nat Rev Cancer 24 , 578–589 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-024-00708-4

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Published : 19 June 2024

Issue Date : August 2024

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